Downfall (2005, DVD)

A powerfully disturbing portrayal of the last days of the 3rd Reich with riveting performances by the entire cast. Be prepared for an intense, rewarding experience. From the brief documentary remarks of Hitler's secretary Traudl Junge at the outset of the film until the hopeful conclusion, this tour de force will give you plenty to think about long after the final credits fade. This is one of the best World War II films ever. Bruno Ganz gives an award-winning performance. He's chillingly convincing in his finely nuanced portrayal of Hitler during the last years of his demonic life -- from his amazingly patient, grandfatherly treatment of his secretary to his tyrannical rages with his senior military leaders. You won't see many performances better than this. To the credit of the film's director and its casting director, the supporting cast is uniformly strong and gives compelling performances. One of the most noteworthy supporting performances is the sinister portrayal of Frau Goebbels by Corinna Harfouch. Magda Goebbels appears throughout most of the film to be an attentive mother and political enthusiast who prides herself at molding her 6 children into model National Socialist wunderkinder. In the film's climactic moments Ms. Harfouch convincingly portrays the pathology of Frau Goebbels' excessive glorification of the Fuhrer and his delusional ideology. Her heinous "crime" against nature will shock and outrage many viewers. Make sure to have your subwoofer turned on so you won't miss the audible and palpable reverberations that Surround Sound adds to this well-crafted film. The musical score also provides an almost haunting backdrop to the malevolence of the Nazi hierarchy, which in the final days of the 3rd Reich cold-bloodedly inflicts a horrific toll on its own German citizens. These effects clearly signal that film director Oliver Hirschbiegel has made a film that is destined to become a classic. Although the Special Features on the DVD are limited, both are worth watching. The MAKING OF, while running for 50+ minutes, helps to introduce many of the principal characters of this large cast, as well as provide some interesting behind the scenes comments about the film. Most of the INTERVIEWS feature repeats parts of the MAKING OF feature. The ONLY "new" (and informative) INTERVIEW was with Melissa Müller, who wrote a book about Hitler's secretary's memoirs. That interview is well worth watching.

Great movie. Bruno Ganz played Hitler perfectly. One of the best war movies I've ever seen. I bought the movie after I saw clips of it on YouTube. The special effects are amazing and the sound was spectacular.

This film captures the essence of the Third Reich's final death rattle. The actors are top shelf and the director brings out the feeling of lost hopes and failed dreams. All of this in the context of desperation and unthinkable dedication to a single man.

If you like World War II history and events, this movie should be in your collection. It is the type of film that can be watched over and over, with a morbid fascination of seeing an auto accident, but not being able to look away.

I highly recommend it to anyone with interest in this time in world history.

Very good acting, one of the best war movies. A very accurate and realsitic portrayal of 1945 Berlin.

This movie is in German with subtitles. It is one of the best movies I have seen on the end of Nazi Germany

This is one excellent movie I wish all coud see. Like it or now, it's a part of our world history.

http://thedeitz.com/

Wow the Germans know how to make a well written and acted movie, lots of action and behind the action scenes lead you to believe you were there as a witness to history, a not to be missed movie soon to be a classic foreigner language movie,
a must have to any history collection

World War II defined how the world is today. This is a very good example of filmwork done on the subject of WWII. Whether it's a documentary piece or a movie, it gives good details on a subject that should never be forgotten. World War II defined how the world is today.

This is probably the best single movie regarding the end of the Third Reich ever produced, and naturally, only the Germans could do it so well. Swiss actor Bruno Ganz provides one of the most riveting, convincing, and yet all too human characterizations of Hitler outside of the Fuerher himself. The battle scenes are extremely realistic, while life in the Fuerher bunker is almost surreal in comparison, given what was happening a few yards above them. Highly recommended movie.
I decided to buy it so I could reference situations in the movie with the books of Albert Speer, John Toland, and a host of other writers who wrote about the fall of the Third Reich.

Gary Warne

Im a BIG war history buff. Downfall is right up there with Shindlers List. By far the best forien war film out there ive ever had the pleasure of seeing. The film covers the last few days of the Third Riech. The most phenominal piece of the film is the charachter Hitler. If you were to picture how the psycho dictator's personality and temper was probably simular to Hitler in Downfall. For war history buffs like myself, fans of war dramas or the curious people that want to know what hitler was like and why he commited suicide, watch Downfall. A MASTERPIECE!

This is a will done movie, mostly about the last days if A. Hitler, and the people that remained close to him to the very end!, though it may have missed the total truth in a few small parts, it it one of the very best I have seen! The real kicker ,was it being made by the Germans! using actors not normal for us to see, seemed to help make it more believable!I wish someone would take the time to re-do this in english, though it does help my study of German, it is very hard for most Males to milti-task ( enjoy the film and read the subtitals at the same time ) Anyone watching this film, will learn a lot from it, and as we see things going on in the world today, it is something all could benefit from!

"Downfall" is the story of the last days of the Third Reich, shown largely from the perspective of Traudl Junge, a 22 year old secretary for Adolph Hitler near the end of the war. The scenes in the Bunker give the realistic picture of the claustrophobic and delusional character of the Nazi hierarchy. The actors portraying the principal characters are realistic and quite appropriate; I was impressed with their performances.
The film is in German with English subtitles which enhances the somber atmosphere, but requires one to have to read the subtitles. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wishes to view an accurate portrayal of what took place.

I haven't seen this movie in it's entirety as yet. However, I did see the second half of it on TV and I thought what I had seen was brilliant, which prompted me to purchase the DVD. Normally, I wouldn't be into Hitler anything, however this movie was excellent and kept me on the edge.

Great drama movie. Great actors. A lot of battle scenes. It kinda gives a chance to have an idea of what where the last moments of hitler in nazi germany.

I love this movie because it shows how it really was at the time. I also love the actors for their excellent perfomance. You can learn histories that were not known. A very good movie.

This DVD was recommended as a somewhat accurate portrayal of Hitler's final days of the war and his total meltdown. I realize that this was not a documentary but provided some insight into what may have happened in that bunker.

This historically accurate film chronicles Adolf Hitler's last days down in the bunker as witnessed & chronicled by his personal secretary Traudl Junge.

A fantastic film that evokes alot of emotion.

Excellent story about Hitler and how sick of a man he really was, mentally and physically. the story involves several of the key figures at the time right before his demise. His not being in touch with reality and still beleiving that he would be saved by troops that no longer exist and subordinates who had betrayed him without his knowing. Definately a must see!

Being something of a history buff I enjoy movies about WWII, but it has to be done right. I don’t care for propaganda filled films and Downfall is pretty close to being propaganda free. Because of that, some critics have bashed the movie because it shows Hitler and even some SS as human beings rather than foaming at the mouth mad men.

The movie illustrates the complexity of Hitler’s personality, at times showing what seemed to be compassion and thoughtfulness. But true to his nature the movie also showed his ruthless side. It also brings out the frustration in Hitler’s Generals staff trying to cope with his delusions of still being able to win the war; but yet remaining absolutely loyal.

The actor who plays Hitler (Bruno Ganz) does an excellent job and looks so much like Hitler its scary. Downfall is spoken in German, which adds to the authenticity. The acting is as good as anything Hollywood can put out and the cinematography is very well done. Downfall brings out the denial, desperation and impending doom, as seen through the eyes of Traudl Junge, Hitler’s secretary. Most of the film’s is shown through her perspective but also takes a few peeks from other points of view.

Often the scariest movies are the ones based on fact. Downfall is that but also sorrowful, riveting, and at times will make you angry. But it’s for those reasons this movie is worth is so good. Downfall is a must see.

This was a very fascinating take and angle on the defeat of Nazi Germany, focusing mostly on Hitler and two other characters, a surgeon, and Hitler's personal secretary. Choices would be one word to describe the general theme of this film in my opinion. Wrong choices finally lead to the defeat of Germany, at war with too many nations, over confidence, incompetent commanders, insufficient supplies, and spread too thin in order to have an efficient military force.

Recommended War Films:
Downfall (A movie covering the last days and downfall of Nazi Germany) 5/5
Saving Private Ryan (I don't think I need to say anything) 5/5
Apocalypse Now Redux (In my opinion the best Vietnam war film ever made) 5/5
WWII Battle Front (A History Channel Documentary) 5/5

Stellar non-hollywood film making - perfectly set in German with subtitles, great foreign actors; a dramatic, startling depiction from Hitlers secretary's point of view. As factual a depiction as you will get, expertly produced. Highly recommended to history and film buffs alike.

I've already watched it three times, and each time it gets better. Downfall is such a powerful movie, slow at times, but an awsome portrayal of the fall of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. The movie shows the ill-fated attempts by Hitler during his last days to remain in control and power while living in a bunker underneath the city of Berlin. Bruno Ganz's portrayal of Hitler was absolutely amazing. Downfall is a German film, so it is entirely spoken in the German language, but it has English subtitles. Like any foreign language film, you do get over the subtitles quickly and proceed through the movie effortlessly, especially this one. The movie is rated R with war violence, other scenes of violence (shootings, after-the-fact lynchings of a German citizens and one german boys father for being a communist symphathizer, suicide) and minor nudity (some topless scenes during a drunk ballroom party), but thats about it. This movie is definitely recommended, and the performances are just awsome. Downfall shows a very powerful ending to a very powerful empire.

very interesting look at the other side. other than das boat, i have never seen a movie from the enemies perspective.

I haven't received right item yet. Seller shipped twice, but none of them has English subtitle. Hey, if you want to sell to US customers, why don't you ship item with English subtitle?