Discuss: Der Untergang (The Downfall)

[Jake]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/

From IMDB:

"In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his Generals and advisers to fight to the last man. "Downfall" explores these final days of the Reich, where senior German leaders (such as Himmler and Goring) began defecting from their beloved Fuhrer, in an effort to save their own lives, while still others (Joseph Goebbels) pledge to die with Hitler. Hitler, himself, degenerates into a paranoid shell of a man, full of optimism one moment and suicidal depression the next. When the end finally does comes, and Hitler lies dead by his own hand, what is left of his military must find a way to end the killing that is the Battle of Berlin, and lay down their arms in surrender."


Has anyone seen this film? It's ranked #46 on the all time list at IMDB.

I tend to dislike films with foreign subtitles but German movies are the exception. Although this movie was nominated for an Oscar (for Best Foreign Film) I've never heard of it. I was pleasantly surprised that it was extremely well done and the acting was superb.

Films about the Third Reich tend to try to teach some lesson but this movie shows an (apparently) unbiased factual recollection of the final events in the Berlin bunker. There's some shocking scenes but I thought the movie is very well balanced.

Overall a superb historical biopic showing the madness and chaos of the final days of Hitler.

[st39.6]

I bought it to my father some while ago, but didnt feel like watching it. I dont like biographical movies that much and I dont like Hitler stuff neither. But I´ve heard of it pretty lot, thought its really good

[Lafce]

I don't have much to say, except that this is a must-see movie, especially if you are interested in this period of the history. Great performances by all actors, I can't think of a single thing that I didn't like in this movie.

[Jax]

Amazing movie, I saw this one in the theatres with my brother when it came out. I also bought the DVD as a christmas present for my grandfather. The perfomances are exceptionally strong, especially Bruno Ganz in his role of Hitler, his acting realy gave me chills (the accent, the ranting, the facial expressions, it was just like the real hitler). At the time when it was nominated for best foreign movie for the Oscars they said this one had no chance of winning it simply because it was too baffling.
Let your prejudice go and go see this movie.

[Jake]

Ganz is an amazing actor, even the subtle details like his hand shaking were done so well.

[j7wild]

I bought a Region 2 copy which I was only able to watch on my PC AFTER ripping it and I cannot get the English Audio or Subtitle track to work.

So I watched an hour of it in German and I didn't understand what the heck was going on!!

[Jake]

^lol, if you want there's a torrent of it on torrentportal.com with the US subs

[j7wild]

^lol, if you want there's a torrent of it on torrentportal.com with the US subs

OMG thank you!!



just for that, special GG for you!!

[Mithrandir01]

Damn! I missed this movie, but after yours reviews... It's "must-see" movie for me.

[DVDRick]

This is a very good movie and does not use/need any cliché like a american production (like this crappy "hitler rise of evil").

If you like it, you might like "das boot" by Wolfgang Peterson too.

[jmcc]

I am very interested on this movie. I have posted something about it in an Spanish (from Spain) forum. After having my computer working, I will try to find it and I will buy it.

Jake and MLers, remember that sex maniac did encodes of the trailer of this movie. You can find it here. In German and subbed.

This movie makes me to remember a very interesting book I had about WW2 and Hitler. I will prepare a thread about it and I will publish it here in the next months. I believe everybody will find it interesting.

Edit: Another thread on ML about this movie

[j7wild]

I am watching it right now!!

Can you say "Hitler was crazy?!?"

[Mithrandir01]

If you like it, you might like "das boot" by Wolfgang Peterson too.

Rick! "Das Boot" is my classic!

techno version of main theme too

[j7wild]

Why are they so crazy then?



Anyway, toward Hitler's final days in April 1945, Berlin is surrounded on one side by the Allies (American and British and their Allies) and on the other side by the Russians.

The Russians are only a few hundred feet, if not yards away from the German Chancellory; the building with the underground network of rooms and bunkers where Hitler lived.

The war is clearly lost;

Nazi German has no armies left to fight off the Allies and the Russians on both fronts.

The Luftwaffe (the Nazi Air Force) is nowhere in sight.

There are scattered Nazi Military units fighting in and outside of Berlin, but they were mostly children, old people, women, inexperienced troops and officers and they were short on ammunition and supply.

The end is only a few days away YET...

Hitler is still talking about counterattacking with a Non-Existent 9th and 12th Army.

Hitler's Top Generals are still talking about Victory and Not Surrendering.

The Maids and Women in the Chancellory are crying and screaming that "The Third Reich Will Rise Again", "National Socialism will prevail", "The Fatherland will still win over those Western and Russian Weak minded Pigs", etc.

Even Eva Braun (Hitler's Wife) and Frau Goebbels (the Wife of Hitler's propaganda minister Joeseph Goebbels who was Germany's Chancellor for one day after Hitler's committed suicide) were still talking about Victory.

Furthermore, the Nazi SS and Gestapo were still going around rounding up suspected traitors and deserters and executing them while the rest of the Berlin is under attack.

Shouldn't they be using those bullets on the enemy?



I will never understand how can one Man (Hitler) and his group of Generals and Advisors (Goering, Himmler, Goebbels, Speers, and others) took a country that was in deep economically depression and poverty after World War I and build it into a Military Machine that almost conquered the entire World.

Additionally, how were they able to brainwash (MOST) of their people into believing what they were doing were good and just and turn them into Fanatical Followers?

[Haazhel_Thorn]

@j7wild:

Nazi Air Force? German Luftwaffe or German Air Force!
Nazi Military? Only SS and SA are Nazi Military. The regular army is called "Wehrmacht".

Hitler's Top Generals are still talking about Victory and Not Surrendering.

If they say anything other, they will execute. What would you say?

The Maids and Women in the Chancellory are crying and screaming that "The Third Reich Will Rise Again", "National Socialism will prevail", "The Fatherland will still win over those Western and Russian Weak minded Pigs", etc.

Fanatic people, like the fanatic Islam-people today.

I will never understand how can one Man (Hitler) and his group of Generals and Advisors (Goering, Himmler, Goebbels, Speers, and others) took a country that was in deep economically depression and poverty after World War I and build it into a Military Machine that almost conquered the entire World.

Additionally, how were they able to brainwash (MOST) of their people into believing what they were doing were good and just and turn them into Fanatical Followers?

This subject is to complex, that I can explain you with my bad english. But only this thing: it was not only a group around Adolf and his friends. It was a normal party, called NSDAP. And one reason you have write yourself: "deep economically depression and poverty after World War I ".

No brainwash! You must only say the right stuff at the right time to the people. The rise of Hitler was not a putsch or revolution, it was a normal democratic process.

Fear is a great power.