A Nation Awaits Its Downfall

Rating: 10/10 (3 October 2006)

April 1945, all of Germany awaits its Downfall. Downfall is called dramatic and accurate by critics. It is a film based upon fact and seen through the eyes of young Traudi Junga, Hitler's secretary. What the audience sees is the everyday lives of Adolph Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun, amongst those that surround them in that infamous bunker during the final days. Hitler, with his many faults, appears almost human. A superb acting feat by Bruno Ganz, I am sure. The Russians invade Germany and bombard Berlin with artillery as the Russian Army circles the city. The bunker becomes an execution chamber for Hitler and his close advisors. The facts were horrifying. Many took their own lives out of fear of the approaching ferocious Russian Army. Nothing was more cruel than to watch Frau Goebbels kill her children as she cries over the loss of National Socialism. The film is filled with characters from the past and Ms. Traudi Junga tells her story with her own words. "I must try (to survive)", Traudi tells her friend as they are separated. At the end, Traudi tells the world that she did not know how bad things really were or the extent of the damage. Fifty million people died before the war was over. It is a story that needs to be told. At the end, the names and titles are shown of the ones that were there, along with a brief history of what happened to them. I mention this because I think it is important to note that some did survive. The language is German with subtitles in English. The movie is a superb achievement and I recommend Downfall to all those with an interest in history.