Downfall is a German war movie released in 2004 that depicts the last days of Adolf Hitler's life in his bunker during the Battle of Berlin. It was directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and written by Bernd Eichinger, and was based on the memoirs of Traudl Junge, Hitler's personal secretary. The movie starts with a prologue that sets the stage for the events that will follow. Itâs April 20, 1945, and Adolf Hitler (played by Bruno Ganz) is celebrating his 56th birthday. The celebrations are interrupted by an air raid, and Hitler, fearful for his life, is forced to take shelter in his underground bunker, surrounded by his closest followers and military generals.
As the days pass, Hitler continues to receive reports from the front line that grow increasingly dire. The Russians are advancing, and the German forces are in full retreat. Despite being presented with evidence that the war is lost, Hitler refuses to accept defeat and urges his generals to launch a counter-attack.
The tension in the bunker is palpable, and the movie portrays the increasingly claustrophobic environment that the occupants must endure. Food and supplies are running low, and people are getting sick. There is a sense of hopelessness and despair. Everyone knows that the end is near, but nobody wants to be the one to say it.
One of the key characters in the movie is Traudl Junge, Hitlerâs personal secretary, played by Alexandra Maria Lara. We see the events unfold through her eyes, and her presence adds a human element to the story. She is a witness to the madness that unfolds in the bunker as Hitler veers from one decision to the next, often contradicting himself.
The movie covers a lot of ground, covering not just Hitler's final days but also the story of some of his generals and followers. Joseph Goebbels (played by Ulrich Matthes), the propaganda minister of the Nazi regime, is depicted as a cold, calculating figure who is fully committed to Hitler's cause. His wife, Magda (played by Corinna Harfouch), is shown as a fanatical follower of Nazism who is willing to kill her own children to spare them from a world without Hitler.
The movie does an excellent job of depicting the breakdown in communication between Hitler and his generals. We see them presenting him with ideas and strategies that are dismissed out of hand, as Hitler becomes more and more irrational. Some of the generals try to convince Hitler to attempt to broker a truce with the Russians, but Hitler is obstinate and refuses to consider any deal that doesn't involve total victory.
One of the most powerful scenes in the movie is the one where Hitler learns that Heinrich Himmler, one of his closest associates, has been negotiating with the Allies behind Hitler's back. Hitler is furious at what he perceives as a betrayal, and he unleashes a vitriolic diatribe against Himmler, damning him to hell and ordering his immediate execution.
Bruno Ganz's performance as Hitler is outstanding. He injects a human element into the portrayal of Hitler, showing him not just as a monster but as a man who is deteriorating mentally and physically. He captures the fanaticism and obsession that drove Hitler to make the decisions that led to the downfall of Germany.
Overall, Downfall is a powerful and moving movie that does an excellent job of depicting the madness and desperation that marked the final days of the Nazi regime. Itâs a stark reminder of the horrors of war and the dangers of fanatical beliefs. Itâs a movie that is both gripping and disturbing, and it deserves to be watched by anyone interested in history or the human condition. Itâs a testament to the power of cinema to bring events of the past to life and to remind us of the importance of never forgetting the lessons of history.
Downfall is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 29 minutes.
