Downfall

Moving, poignant and powerful, this Oscar-nominated drama explores the final days of the Third Reich from the point-of-view of Hitler’s last secretary, Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara). As Berlin lies in ruins above ground and the Soviet armies begin to close in, Hitler (Bruno Ganz) stows away in a hidden underground bunker along with his main Nazi officials, determined to fight to the bitter end. The film pinpoints Hitler’s steady decline into a paranoid shadow of his former self, fluctuating between moods of bizarre optimism and suicidal depression, as well as examining his relationship with Eva Braun (Juliane Köhler) during the days which led to the final defeat of an already broken nation.

Movies depicting the Nazi dictator obviously deal with a very sensitive past and always risk sparking controversy, but Oliver Hirschbiegel’s direction brings out some incredibly realistic performances here. However, whilst the entire cast produce some stellar acting, it is Bruno Ganz who stands out above the rest in taking on the challenge of portraying Hitler. Ganz brings a surprising level of depth and believability to the role, allowing us to see the man behind the monster, yet crucially maintains the unquestionable horror and irrationality of his actions. Interestingly, the script was heavily informed by the testimonies of those closest to Hitler during his final days (including Traudl Junge herself) and as a result, we constantly feel as though the film’s events are being told with a greater degree of authenticity and truth, imparting a real lasting impact that will stay with you long after leaving the cinema.

Brilliantly acted, sensitively handled and utterly unmissable: Downfall is one of the most impressive movie portrayals of World War Two in recent cinematic history.

Laura Davenport

Downfall is a film about Hitler. But it's not a Hitler you may have seen on screen before as Bruno Ganz's portrayal of the Fuhrer makes him more real, and so that bit more human. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and based on a series of non-fiction books on Hitler's final hours within the bunker, where he would eventually take his own life, Downfall is a compendiously detailed re-enactment of the last days of the Third Reich as the Red Army closes in on Berlin. Hiding out in a bunker complex below the devastation and chaos of the bombarded city, it is the discourse between Hitler and his remaining, loyal staff (the conversations between whom are all said to be historically accurate and based on eye-witness accounts) which makes 'Downfall' such a stunning character piece.

Over the course of its epic 150 minutes, the film's focus is Traudl Junge, the subject of the 2002 documentary "Blind Spot." Still a young woman, Junge was Hitler's secretary and took down his last will. "Downfall" opens when Junge, played by Alexandra Maria Lara, is hired, and ends with her escape. In the film's epilogue, the real Junge questions her own innocence in a clip cribbed from "Blind Spot." This is a revealing and fascinating insight into the life of someone who worked alongside one of history's most notorious dictators.

In the end, just like in Hollywood, the villains are broken and destroyed. Here, however, it isn't such a pretty sight. Hirschbiegel's vision doesn't afford the Nazis even a hint of redemption. Not for a single moment does he glorify the murdererous warmongers on screen, yet never do we lose the sense that these were real people. Their miserable end is repulsive, wasteful and banal. A muffled bang and a slump on an ugly basement carpet-—this is how Adolf Hitler stole away from his monumental crimes and escaped the world.

One of the most important films of recent memory, Downfall is a brilliantly gripping psychological study, and an excellent history lesson. But most importantly, it's a dire warning. If you like film, you should see Downfall. It's moving, powerful cinema just like all films should be.

Edward Hemming

Nominated for this year's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, this is the incomparable story of Hitler's last hours.

The end of the Second World War, the Russians are making their way through Berlin, eliminating the last of Hitler's forces. Hitler himself is in an underground bunker with his most important allies; Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels with family and of course his girlfriend, Eva Braun. As fighting echoes around the city above them they are completely cut off from the outside world. Hitler shows his madness, waving between hysteria and denial, still giving orders and moving his dead troops across redundant maps. They know the Russians will find them and with that knowledge all make their personal preparations for the inevitable.

Oliver Hirschbiegel is a very brave man for making Downfall, but he has done it right. It can be guaranteed that this film will go down in history as a classic, it represents the first time that the events of a Spring 60 years ago can be told to a mass audience, and that we have now recovered enough to look back and to take in. It is only right that this film come from Germany, but in many ways this is a major event in itself, as Germany has a reputation for moving on from the World Wars as much as possible; the display of swastikas, for example, is forbidden.

Bruno Ganz's portrayal of Hitler is utterly superb and worthy of an Oscar. Downfall humanises Hitler - in that it portrays his character, to the best of remaining records and survivors' memories. However, it in no way takes away any from the horrors of the war, or justifies anything the Nazi's did, it only gives Hitler a human face, because he was after all human.

Watching this film is to experience why so many people followed Hitler, his great charisma is there on the screen. Yet experiencing Downfall is also to be afraid, these were the climactic hours of many years of horrifying events, and so the atmosphere and many of the scenes are chilling.

Make time for this film.

Parker Bic