Downfall

William Boyd wrote a good article about the film in last weekend's Guardian dealing with the 'Hitler portrayal too human' question.

He dismissed this as PC nonsense - Hitler was not beamed down from another planet, the fact that he was 'just' a human being ( and in many ways, a rather banal one ) makes his rise and 'achievements' even more horrifically mystifying.

 

Downfall was probably the most emotional hitting war movie I have ever seen. It really captured what happened truly well. My only problem is with what happened with general weilding. I've read accounts by Siegfreid Knappe who was on his general staff and went with him to the fuhrer bunker for the first time. He claims that Weilding never knew about the order for him to be shot till he met with Hitler and Hitler anounced it to him. Other then that everything was dead on from all I've read.

 

On general release here in the UK this week, and all the reviews I've read have been overwhelmingly positive. Most newspapers and movie guides have rated it their 'film of the week'.

Must see it - soon !

 

Oops!

Winston must be turning around in his grave-Hitler getting good reviews in the UK...

 

Martin, go to the cinema in town and see it ASAP!!! It is quite the finest piece of work I have seen in the cinema in ages. The portrayal of Hitler is remarkable and the men around him very well acted. It was not 'sympathetic' to Hitler but portrayed him in a manner more fitting with the statements of witnesses, fond of his dog, pleasant to his secretaries and prone to periods of almost madness.

 

Just got back from seeing 'Downfall' with my wife.

Absolutely superb. This movie has caused an outpouring of comment and letters in the national Press here. What a truly excellent work, made so much more powerful by being in the German language. I've seldom known 155 minutes go so quickly.

This is an important film - if you're a member of this forum, then you must see it.

 

Nice to hear you liked it as well,Martin!

BTW, any comments from your wife??

 

AAAAAAArgh!!! I'm desperate to watch it, and no bloody signs of it being shown around here!

 

Actually, Kai, my wife enjoyed 'Downfall' very much - saying that it was an intelligent, well-acted and powerful film. She was also fascinated to see the reconstruction of events both below and above ground in Berlin which we visited five years ago.

 

Good to hear Martin that your wife liked the film-not ending in the feared " you dragged me to see another of those stupid war movies " situations. ( personal experience you know...)

Friedrich,
I think the film has been out so long that it might be on DVD at least in central Europe very soon..If you cannot see it in Mexico, then that´s one possibility to try to order it from here.

 

IIRC it is already out on DVD in Germany, try using German amazon.

 

Well, think I ought to proffer my opinions.

Saw this film with Stefan last week at the Soho Curzon, and can hardly think of a film that has had me more gripped by its execution, or more appalled by its subject matter. To see Traudl Junge portrayed as a young girl and interviewed as an elderly woman, and having seen her in middle age on 'The World at War' gave the film a sense of historical continuity and a ring of authenticity that was profound. The film really transports you into that bunker and allows a glimpse of madness, indoctrination, perverted patriotism, pragmatism, self-preservation and all sorts of other human characteristics all interacting with each other, while giving enough of a view of Berlin to really illustrate the hopelessness of the final days of the battle for the city.

The film isn't a documentary, but the feeling of absolute, complete and total authenticity is extremely well done and entirely convincing. The film is fantastically well made, straightforwardly but sensitively directed without recourse to unecessary flashiness or special effects, and the performances of the entire cast are utterly compelling.

I haven't been so impressed by a film, in so many ways and on so many levels, in a very long time. I would happily pay another £5 to see it again.

 

When will the movie be available on video rental?

 

I can only chime in with the praise offered by others regarding this film, after having seen it. Great performances by a host of actors. The actress playing Magda Goebbels was damn impressive in a very scary and unsettling way!

Surely this one should have claimed the Oscar for best foreign movie, methinks...

 

BTW,

seen the movie yet, Friedrich?

 

I bought a bootleg of the German DVD of Downfall on eBay a few weeks back...Watched it on the computer since I only have Region One players for my home theater system.

Region One release date is 2 August...and I am buying it for sure...Very impressive movie!

I agree that actress that played Magda was brilliant. The entire subplot dealing with the murder of the Goebbels children gave me chills...and many tears. Truly a heartbreaking moment.

 

Do try to see it on the big screen if you get the opportunity - the effect is really something.

 

Herr Generale, I have purchased a copy of the DVD from Germany...I might have a "backup" that you might want ... free of charge.

BDS

 

Released in the US - got to get my copy!