A tribute to the Russian saviours of Europe

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2014)

Words can barely describe the power of this film. I have a strong constitution for depictions of violence and emotional trauma, but 'Der Untergang' was utterly harrowing in its intensity.
There was a certain scene involving Magda Goebbels which made me want to leave the room and hug my baby daughter. Those of you who have already seen the film will know what I'm referring to.
I am in total awe of Ganz. His depiction of Hitler is utterly believable. I have read that he spent four months studying Hitler's mannerisms and accent in order to achieve perfection in the role. This is true professionalism.
When the Russians finally arrived they looked and sounded incredibly 'foreign' to me (more so than they would normally, if that makes sense) and I struggled to understand why.
I finally realised it was because I had spent so much time immersed in the world of the Germans that I had begun to identify with them. Consequently, I found myself viewing the Russians through 'German' eyes.
I don't know if anyone else had this experience, but it struck me as a testament to the brilliance of the cast, their acting, and the superb combination of direction and cinematography.
I rate 'Der Untergang' at 29.97 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as an appropriately Teutonic 9/10 on IMDb.