DVD Movie Review - Downfall (der Untergang)

Young Master Nordeaster and I watched "Downfall" last night. Downfall is the story of the last days of The Third Reich as seen through the eyes of Traudl Junge, Hitler's personal secretary for 2 1/2 years. Her book, "Until the Final Hour" along with "Inside Hitler's Bunker" by Joachim Fest were the basis for the movie. The vast majority of the movie takes place inside the infamous bunker, where Adolf Hitler and his Nazi inner circle spent their final days.

The movie is a German film, which adds a layer of realism, but you do have to deal with subtitles, which at times go by a little quickly -- primarily because you get drawn away from them to the expressions of the characters.

Bruno Ganz was amazing as Hitler. Not only does he look remarkably like the Nazi dictator, he was able to take Hitler beyond a one-dimensional monster. He covered the monstorous and maniacal side, but also showed moments of warmth and charm that Hitler must have possessed to initially gain the trust of those around him and of the German people. Ganz and director Olivier Hirschbiegel show us a Hitler that goes from caring for his dog, Blondi to a deluded idealist with dreams of a Berlin filled with culture, thriving business and amazing architechture, to an unstable lunatic moving divisions which no longer exist and calling for the extermination of generals for their failures in an unwillable situation.

Of course we also see the monster who believes he was doing God's work by aiding and advancing Darwin's natural selection process. This comes out in his references to the Jews and even how he feels about his own people. As Berlin is falling to the Russians, several generals raise concern for the citizens. Hitler's view is that if the citizens are not strong enough to hold back the Russians they are two weak to deserve anything other than their fate.

One of the strongest messages of the movie is a reminder from Hitler that he did not take power, but that the German people gave it to him -- and in doing so they are getting what they asked for.

Before the final moments of the film, there are about 10 minutes that are somewhat anti-climatic and drawn out, but other than that, the movie and the strong characters keep your attention throughout. The movie begins and ends with an interview with Frau Junge, the final one with a very moving message. All in all, I give Downfall a strong recommendation.