Modern Classic

Rating: 10/10 (28 April 2006)

Der Untergang (aka "The Downfall" in Engrish) details the final days of Hitler in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
The Downfall is a bona fide modern classic - incredibly disturbing, scary, disorientating and emotional.
The maturity and honesty in which it deals with its subject matter is outstanding.
There are so many powerhouse performances including that of Hitler (Bruno Ganz) - who doesn't play it as a cheap villain "stereotype" - rather Hitler is portrayed as a realistic, deeply flawed human being coming to terms with his inevitable fate and that of his country. There are also some powerful, disturbing glimpses into his genocidal nature.
The scenes of Eva Braun dancing in a ballroom with the imminent Russian invasion happening outside has to be seen to be believed. It is like a disorientating cruise on the Titanic. The scenes of the SS leader's wife putting her children down were some of the most emotionally gutrenching scenes I've ever seen on the screen.
Normally - I'm not a big fan of war movies - but this is a modern classic and has to be experienced.