Der Untergang (2004)
 

After having seen this wonderful film I'm a bit saddened that it didn't take home the Best Foreign Film Oscar. THE SEA INSIDE is a deserving film in it's own right, but DER UNTERGANG is so far beyond it, it's unreal. I enjoyed it so much, I might go as far as to say that this was the best film out of all the movies I've seen from 2004. Bruno Ganz turns in a performance as Adolf Hitler that is so chilling and brings such haunting realism to the part that it's nothing short of spectacular. One of the best war films I've ever seen and I liked how the film doesn't demonize the Nazi's, but instead shows the war from an angle that many of us have never seen. In that respect, the film is a valuable history lesson. Also while it does portray Hitler as a human being it is not a Pro-Nazi film in any way. He may be human, but he's still out of his mind and cruel in the film, which makes his compassionate and more human actions in the film so much more fascinating and unnerving. It's a very compelling take on the man, which I find far more effective in absorbing the horrors he was responsible for than if he was played as the devil incarnate. There are so many great things about this movie (the bunker, how the Russians are handled in the film, the Berlin battle sequences) that I can go on for days. The film was so interesting I wouldn't have minded it being longer than it actually is because the two and a half hours flew by. Highly recommended.

http://i140.exs.cx/img140/143/00mr6nq.jpg

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

Is the Fuhrer playing with himself in that picture ? :p

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

I believe he's signaling to the guy on third to steal home.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

Isnt that our old friend Joe Lozo? :eek:

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

As a history buff I am extremely interested in seeing this. From everything I've read, it totally blows the other "Führerbunker" films — HITLER: THE LAST 10 DAYS (starring Alec Guiness) and the made-for-TV THE BUNKER (with Anthony Hopkins) — completely out of the water.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

Yes, I'm interested in seeing this as well... it sounds absolutely fascinating.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

I've also heard good things about this and will consider picking it up on rental. The fact that the film is a German production is even more impressive since Nazism is still something of a taboo in the country. No doubt this is a powerful film that will enable German citizens to reflect on their past without being distorted by neo-Nazi's or offending those who suffered in the war.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

This was indeed a great film, and Bruno Ganz is brilliant, along with e.g. Heino Ferch (who played Albert Speer).

Interesting side note is, that one of the surviving (if not the only one) audio-tapes, where Hitler speaks his own (calm) voice can be found here in Finland (Hitler met Mannerheim, and that meeting was recorded), and Ganz learned also to talk with the help of that tape.

This can be found also from the IMDB:
"Recordings of Adolf Hitler speaking are nearly all samples of him giving speeches to large masses - his normal speaking voice was quite different. In the summer of 1942 Hitler attended the birthday party of Finland's Field Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim who turned 75. The Finnish national radio made a recording of the party. This recording contains samples of Hitler in normal conversation and was therefore used extensively by Bruno Ganz in his research for the role."

German-DVD is available, and with English subs it seems:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASI...887501-0419209

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

I've been wanting to see this since I first heard about it.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

Great movie. Here's a review I posted on another forum:


Der Untergang tells the story of the last days of the Third Reich and of Adolf Hitler, as Russian troops surround Berlin and the top Nazis in charge stage one last fight to continue their empire. Hitler and the other head generals occupy a bunker beneath the ground with the feeble hope that the German soldiers will win the battle and if not, then to die with honor and take the name of National Socialism to the grave with them. At the beginning of the film we see Traudl Junge, a 22 year old woman from Munich, who becomes Hitler's secretary and stays with him and the other Nazis as they hole up in the bunker at the end of their reign. It is never shown how much she really knows about the atrocities happening by Hitler's hand, but she does seem a bit oblivious throughout to what a monster the man really is. We also see a human side of the "great" dictator, where even though he has millions of people wiped out at his command, he is still a human being that does feel emotions and believes in a cause worth fighting for and worth dying for. This is not to say that the audience sympathizes with him, but more or less understands that even the most evil of people do have weaknesses and have souls like any other person, no matter how corrupted and dark they are. It's also interesting to see Hitler's followers slowly come to realize that this small man with uncontrollably trembling hands and outbursts of nonsensical rage may not be of the most fit of mind, and some of them do all that is in their power to escape from this madman and save their own skin, while others blindly follow the Fuhrer to the end. Most of the film takes place inside Hitler's bunker and the quick pacing and extremely chaotic atmosphere helps to give everything a very surreal feel. Not every character in the film is one-dimensional, and no matter how messed up psychologically and morally they are, one can easily see how an individual could be caught up in all of this nonsense that caused many to lose their lives and be forever stricken with hate and despair. The movie does run a bit long and the somewhat sentimental ending came as a bit of surprise, but everything is handled so well that you can't take your eyes off the screen even for a moment. One thing I still wasn't sure of (and probably nobody except for one person is) is how much Frau Junge really did know about what all was going on during her time with Hitler, and how ignorant she really was of the tragedy known as the Holocaust. Many things are left up for the viewer to come to their own conclusions and try to figure out what was going in the minds of the different real life persons in the film. Everything is top notch in Der Untergang- the acting, directing, and the film's ability to arise strong emotions in the viewer. If you haven't seen this movie yet, then I highly recommend you go check it out.

10/10

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

it didn't really impress me this movie..loved the fact it was made by germans tho..
nice flick tho..

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

One of the best films I have ever seen. Finally a good movie made by Germans about one of the most bizarre persons ever to be born, Adolf Hitler.
Brilliant acting by Bruno Ganz, and the rest of the cast. This film was near perfection as far as historical movies go.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

I completely agree.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

I'd like to see this, too - Bruno Ganz is a terrific actor. Funnily enough, my alma mater, UPJ, has a film course that I, of course, attended every year when I was a student there. One of the films on this year's list is - this one. :) I may stop up and watch it.

Re: Der Untergang (2004)
 

Another thread on this here (under its American title, DOWNFALL):

http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/sho...light=downfall