Review of Downfall (1997) by Bob M — 04 Aug 2010

I have seen many films (and read several books) about the Nazi Party because I try to understand how an entire population could support such a heinous government. If we do not understand that, it will likely happen again. Generally, I am also against war but if any war could ever be moral, the effort to put down Hitler surely comes closest to being morally justified. Downfall looks at Hitler during his last days from the perspective of his last personal secretary, Traudl Junge, excellently played by Alexandra Maria Lara.

It's April of 1945, the Russian army is hammering Berlin from the east and advancing steadily on the city. Allied forces are attacking from the west. Hitler is ensconced in his bunker leading what is left of his generals and supporting staff trying to extol victory from the demoralizing defeat that is creeping closer with each passing day. Even knowing the ultimate result does not ruin the claustrophbic, chilling atmosphere of those final weeks and days.

Bruno Ganz is brilliant as Hitler. He reportedly studied rare personal tapes of Hitler as well as Parkinson's patients in an effort to capture the essence of Hitler's character. And that study surely paid off. He recreates the Hitler that can go from an insanely ranting leader demanding the execution of someone for the merest of failures to having a child of the Goebble's sitting on his lap reading. Often the change is instantaneous. Sometimes he can make it through an entire dinner without incident. Regardless, Ganz paints the picture of an emotionally damaged person who got to a position where he could express that anger on an entire population. Ganz also expresses the various rationalizations Hitler uses for his decisions - scary stuff.

The collection of generals Hitler surrounds himself with are the permanently mentally ill (Goebbels) and career military people who threw their careers in with Hitler while abandoning their morality. A quick word about the Goebbels. Magda Goebbels, played superbly by Corinna Harfouch, and Joseph Goebbels, played equally well by Ulrich Matthes, are terrifying examples of extreme mental and emotional illness. As the final days approach, they commit crimes that only people without a shred of emotion or compassion could ever commit.

In my efforts to understand Nazi Germany, I cannot understand the appeal of Hitler. The film makes it clear that the socially and emotionally bent people are the most likely to be supportive of such a leader. I understand his staff and generals are fairly accurately represented in the film. This is a definite must see film for those interested in history, especially European history during WWII....