Downfall (UK)
April 1945, a nation awaits its...
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 149 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Set in Berlin, 1945, this powerful and provocative drama retells the final days of the Second World War as recorded in the diaries of Adolf Hitler`s private secretary, Traudl Junge, while barricaded with Hitler and his closest confidants in the Fuhrer`s secret bunker. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel with an astonishing performance by Bruno Ganz as history`s most notorious figure, this unprecedented and controversial insider`s perspective is a gripping insight into the madness and despertaion of Hitler in the final hours of the war as the Russian Army closes a ring around Berlin.
Special Features:
Making of (60 mins). Cast and filmmaker interviews. Historical Personalities and their Actor`s Biographies. The Bunker - A Virtual Tour. Shooting In Russia: behind the scenes look with production crew commentary. About Shooting: behind the scenes look with director`s commentary.
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 German
Subtitle Tracks:
English
Starring:
Juliane Köhler
Ulrich Matthes
Corinna Harfouch
Alexandra Maria Lara
Bruno Ganz
Your Opinions and Comments
The movie tells the story of Adolf Hitler`s last weeks. It depicts Hitler as a human being, and this is why the movie was so controversial in Germany.
Having lost numerous relatives in the Holocaust, it`s far from easy to watch a movie that says out and loud that Hitler WAS, after all, just flesh and blood. For over 60 years, it was actually easier to believe a human being can`t be THAT cruel. Well, history proved us (and still does) that a human being can be an animal, after all.
Bruno Ganz is absolutely stunning in his portray of Hitler. This is as close as it gets to Oscar-level performance.
The video transfer is very good. There are no compression signs and the colors are deliberately de-saturated and actually enhance the gloomy claustrophobic atmosphere in the movie.
The DTS and DD 5.1 soundtracks are excellent. The surrounds are active throughout the movie and create an amazing sound envelope.
The menus are animated with sound.
The rental copy of the movie I watched did not offer any extras.
Bottom line - this is a difficult at times movie to watch, but nonetheless - a brilliantly important one. Recommended.