"Downfall" Film Review
I saw the controversial movie "Downfall" yesterday. It is a painstaking depiction of the last chaotic days inside Hitler's bunker as the Nazi state collapsed in April-May 1945. The film impresses with its commitment to detail and realism, having been based on a book by the German historian Joachim Fest and the recollections of Hitler's secretary Traudl Junge (played by Alexandra Maria Lara). The filmakers' efforts in this regard are seen in the fine attention to detail (down to the Nazi ashtrays even) and the nuanced characterisations of the protagonists.
Bruno Lanz's portrayal of Hitler is brilliantly crafted as he displays the different aspects of his character seemlessly. As to be expected there are the violent outbursts and rants of a man filled with hate, and losing his grip on reality, defiantly rejecting the bad news he receives from his Generals. There is however and more controversially the genial Hitler, who shows affection for his dog, and is nice to his secretary & cook. This depiction has been criticised for supposedly lending some degree of sympathy to a man responsible for so many atrocities. This criticism is I think unwarranted, firstly it probably is accurate, people even at the extremes are not perfectly evil or perfectly good 24 hrs a day, and secondly you really don't feel any sympathy or sense of greater identification for Hitler.
The characters in Hitler's inner circle are also fleshed out well. We see a range of personalities including the chillingly fanatical Nazis Dr Goebbels & his wife, the dapper architect Albert Speer, and assorted Generals, and aides. There are some who maintain their belief in Hitler even as all crumbles around them, others who start looking for a way out, and some who continue doggedly fighting a losing battle.
The film is long at 156 minutes, and even though I knew from history what was going to happen (well obviously in terms of the result but also some of the fates of the individuals) it still managed to keep my attention. The first rate performances, excellent production values and cinematography, combined made it well worth watching.
Bruno Lanz's portrayal of Hitler is brilliantly crafted as he displays the different aspects of his character seemlessly. As to be expected there are the violent outbursts and rants of a man filled with hate, and losing his grip on reality, defiantly rejecting the bad news he receives from his Generals. There is however and more controversially the genial Hitler, who shows affection for his dog, and is nice to his secretary & cook. This depiction has been criticised for supposedly lending some degree of sympathy to a man responsible for so many atrocities. This criticism is I think unwarranted, firstly it probably is accurate, people even at the extremes are not perfectly evil or perfectly good 24 hrs a day, and secondly you really don't feel any sympathy or sense of greater identification for Hitler.
The characters in Hitler's inner circle are also fleshed out well. We see a range of personalities including the chillingly fanatical Nazis Dr Goebbels & his wife, the dapper architect Albert Speer, and assorted Generals, and aides. There are some who maintain their belief in Hitler even as all crumbles around them, others who start looking for a way out, and some who continue doggedly fighting a losing battle.
The film is long at 156 minutes, and even though I knew from history what was going to happen (well obviously in terms of the result but also some of the fates of the individuals) it still managed to keep my attention. The first rate performances, excellent production values and cinematography, combined made it well worth watching.
posted by Dr. Kananga at 11:42 PM
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