Review of Downfall (1997) by Trevor C — 22 Apr 2011

Possible spoilers follow:

A very realistic, almost heroic look at Hitler, though it becomes very apparent, reasonably quickly, that Hitler is still the evil tyrant that we hear of today. He isn't shown as a hero or necessarily a great man, just as a man with a vision, and a very extreme and often non-realistic way of achieving it. For example; he makes plans to send non-existant troops to fight. Hitler is also shown as a fierce yet pouty man who demands his orders be followed.

It's a very interesting look on Hitler's final days of power up until his suicide, and yes, its, for what I believe is for the first time, from the Nazi's perspective (though its told from the account of Hitler's secretary, who, though loyal, doesn't come across to be as extreme as the Nazis and comes from a family that actually dissuades her from actually getting involved with the Nazis).

Bruno Ganz plays Hitler with such magnificence, I almost felt like he was brought back to life and placed on screen.

It's not really an easy film to sit through, because, though very fascinating, it is slow and also, at times, very disturbing. For instance, the civilians of Berlin are basically killed off and/or left to starve, plus there's the whole war-movie (battle) grittiness, and, worst off all, we see every single one of Goebbels' children get offed - one by one.

Very gritty, but very well made.