Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel - 2004 poster
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) wrote: The film did not provide an adequate portrayal of Hitler's actions, because no film could, and that no response would be sufficient...Hitler was, in reality, the focus for a spontaneous uprising by many of the German people, fuelled by racism, xenophobia, grandiosity and fear. As I understand it. the famous English Historian, A.J.P. Taylor also agued that it was the German people as much as the one man who caused and carried out the War. Maybe, but there is no denying that the Swiss actor Bruno Ganz's portrayal of the Nazi leader was outstanding.
Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler
He looked the part and (judging by the contemporary newsreels) he spoke and walked (had a shaky hand) and acted the part. One German academic argued that the Fuhrer's portrayal was accurate, by showing his will to destroy, and his will of denying reality. This became maddingly obvious to all those around him in those final days. To the German tabloid Bild's question, Are we allowed to show the monster as a human being?, surely the answer is Yes. Monstrous no doubt, but clearly one with a compelling, even mesmeric, 'charm' over both individuals and the masses.
The Fuhrer praising the Berlin Hitler Youth
Whether presenting a medal to the young boy Peter Kanz, for being the most successful tank hunter and telling him History will take note of you; commanding the attention of the generals and party officials around the table in the final hours; or responding to the maniacal gushing of devotion from Frau Goebbels; Hitler is the centre of their world. Who was worse? Goebbels (sinisterly played by the actor) - I feel no sympathy. The German people chose their fate...they gave us the mandate. And now their little throats are being cut - who cowardly makes his wife poison his six small children, before shooting her and then himself; or Hitler, so proud that I cleansed the German lands of Jewish poison...Life never forgives weakness. Compassion is a primal sin. A cess pit of evil.
The claustrophobia, the demoralisation, the seediness, the fear, the destruction are all well portrayed in the movie. The much spoofed scenes of Hitler pounding the table, pointing at the map and ordering imaginary Wehrmacht troops to surround the Soviet attackers is actually well done.
Not a happy chappy
The ranting, the paranoia, the self pity, the tiny moments of genuine human feelings (when his dog Blondi is poisoned) are all emotions Ganz puts across realistically. Several of the actors also gave well-rounded, believable performances. It was mildly unsettling to see/listen to the real Traudl Junge (the film is based partly on her memories as Secretary to Hitler) recounting her memories. She was allowed to settle down in post-war Germany, having been classed as a young follower, lived in Munich and died there in 2002. Her friend Gerda Christian also escaped and died in Dusseldorf in April 1997. She recalled her days in the Bunker: I've got the feeling that I should be angry with this child, this young and oblivious girl, but I was too curious. One of the few admirable Germans, Prof. Dr. Ernst-Gunther Schenck, after spending time as a captive by the Soviets, was released in 1953 and died in Aachen in December 1998.
Downfall was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on 14 September 2004 and was released in Germany two days later. The film made $93.6 million altogether. It was nominated for an Oscar at the 2005 77th Academy Awards. It won the 2005 BBC4 World Cinema competition.
2006 DVD
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