The Final Days

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2019)

Classy and stylish depiction of Hitler's final days centering on the tale of his secretary Traudl Junge. The horror of a city in siege is fully depicted in all its gore and misery. The late Bruno Ganz impressively portrays the Führer by look and action as he shows an ill and delusional figure who was detestable in his inhumanity as he was pathetic in his failure to face reality. The comely Alexandra Maria Lara shines as the beleaguered and torn secretary who manages to escape from the clutches of madness into freedom. Although a bit too long for consistency this is one of the few non-American films to truly stand out in pacing, acting, screenplay and cinematography. A must see.