Super Film, superb Acting

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2005)

This film is one of a kind. In my opinion: one of the best film of all time. I was surprised by the whole productions. There are many films about WW-II German, most made in USA. Even with the best intention (saving private Ryan), it gets never even close to this one. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I would really suggest you to go and see.
The film is about the last days of Hitler in his bunker in Berlin before the Russian came in 1945, told through the perception and experiences of his secretary Traudl. It portrayed Hitler trying to cope with the immense pressure of losing the war and getting caught by the enemy. His fear to end like Mussolini, his feeling of loneliness and hopelessness despite the presence of his close aids and his disbelieves that it could end like that. For once we see that Hitler is also a human being. Yes, I am afraid to say that in the very basic sense of being, he is a human person. What evil is his deeds, his political view, his propaganda's, his acts of war and any other things he is being accused for. The critics said the he is being too human portrayed by the actor. I can disagree with that. If you can see the whole issues from art point of view, Bruno Ganz played him the best. I am pretty sure if the Oscar is also given to "foreigner" he would won it with distance from any other contenders in 2004 Academy Awards (at least if one's is honest and free from any prejudice, historical burden or personal pains). After 60 years I would say so.
Although Ganz was the center of the whole movie, it is fair to say that the whole production (director, actors, cinematography, ...) was top. The setting and the whole atmosphere breath the coming of the inevitable defeat (death). You are not seeing a movie but you're being sucked in the movie.
10/10