Der Untergang (Downfall)

Rating: 8/10

We've all seen our fair share of World War II movies made by Americans about Americans and Der Untergang, as its name suggests, is not of the same category. This German movie based on the last ten days of the war is a vivid depiction of how Adolf Hitler and his loyalists dealt with defeat, first with denial and then acceptance, and the events that took place in the bunkers of Berlin at that time.

Many of the viewers will recognise this movie as the one from which the clips for the “Hitler Reaction” videos were taken, which went viral on YouTube a couple of years back. Der Untergang, or better known in English, Downfall, is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel based on the memoirs of a number of Adolf Hitler's personal staff and members of the SS and the Third Reich who were close to him. The wide range of first-hand accounts as source material is responsible for the level of detail achieved in this movie. Traudl Junge (Alexandra Lara), Hitler's secretary at that time, walks us into this story with her account of how she first met him and the story goes on from there. Frau Junge's perspective is essentially our insight into the minds of the Third Reich in its last days.

One of the best things about this movie is the acting, and Bruno Ganz gives us a brilliant portrayal of Adolf Hitler. From the hand gestures to intonations in the dialogue, the months of research and practice are evident. Downfall is a rather long ride in terms of length. In 155 minutes, we are basically shown how Hitler begins to lose control of his ranks, yet his ego and sense of pride keep the Germans from surrendering, which eventually results in the destruction of Berlin. All the historical figures prominent in the Third Reich are present in this movie, from Heinrich Himmler to Joseph Goebbels; even Eva Braun, Hitler's girlfriend (later wife), who tries to keep things together as long as possible until she commits suicide with her husband. The stories of the deaths of the Grawitz and Goebbels family make for heartbreaking tales. A masterful portrayal of Magda Goebbels by
Corinna Harfouch, a woman crazed by Nazi propaganda and a mother ready to sacrifice her family, deserves a special mention.  

What sets this movie apart is its portrayal of the villains. It humanizes Adolf Hitler without trying to veil his evil views on Aryan supremacy and such an honest portrayal of history is appreciable. Blind loyalty to a crazed leader took many Germans down the path of ultimate sacrifice and that loyalty is a fascinating part of history that this movie depicts well. Hitler's maniacal reactions and delusional plans in the face of a barrage of betrayals from his generals give us a dose of the harsh reality of war. This movie should be an interesting watch for anyone eager to learn the story from a different side. Many movies have used the Nazi ideology simply as a tool to set a negative premise but what Downfall offers is a look from within, making it appear just as sick, but with a lot more substance.