Insanity at its worst

Rating: 8/10 (12 August 2008)

Only rarely do we get to see a European war movie , but when we do , it is certainly a little gem , like this one based upon the memories of a former Hitler's personal secretary of his last days in the bunker under Berlin . The end is nigh , but no one , especially Hitler himself , wants to at least once in his lifetime accept the inevitable , namely , the defeat , even worse : he and most of his entourage like Himmler still dream of the magical counterstrike by now virtually non-existent German army , for which even children are now senselessly giving lives, being torn to pieces by the incessant Russian barrage . Hitler's personal psychological ruin , probably a delusional maniacal paranoia in the last stages , is incredibly portrayed by Mr. Ganz , as are all other characters , like the Himmler couple  the infanticide by madame Helga H . , otherwise the emblem of a true Arian mother , president of a Nazi women's association, immediately after their savior's suicide is , perhaps , one of the most shocking scenes in the history of cinema , then E. Braun , who at one point confides to the author , that in spite of having lived with Hitler for many years, she still does not know him , and all others as well . In one word : if you want to learn about the insanity , which is the basic idea in this movie , to which everyone can easily succumb , then this is the definite cinematic must see!