Downfall on DVD (2004)

Fascinating, but overly long ...

A customer from Edinburgh , 06/04/2005

Bruno Ganz pulls off an unbelievably realistic and gripping portrayal of Adolf Hitler, and his final years as leader of Nazi Germany. Set in an underground bunker in Berlin, Downfall tells the story of the events which followed the Soviet onslought on the city, and the reaction of Hitler and his fellow Nazi officers to the impending collapse of their city. Some horrifying moments make the audience sit up and pay attention, but I found Downfall slightly dragging at times, and a distinct lack of a protagonist (excluding Hitler's secretary Traudl, who is caught in the middle of the terrible occurences), meant there were moments when I wished the Soviet soldiers would hurry up and kill them. Overall though, definately worth a watching solely because of Ganz's portrayal of Hitler, and an insight into the few defining moments which led to the collapse of one of history's greatest evils.

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A brilliant film that tells the story from inside the Bunker where Hitler and his close confidents spent the last days of the war and in some cases their lives

Dan Paterson from Ilkley, Yorkshire, Great Britain , 03/08/2005

I am a history student who studies the third reich and its downfall. This film is based on first hand accounts of what happened inside Hitlers bunker in the last week of Hitlers life and the way in which the Nazi state was rapidly desintergrating. The fact that this film was made by a German film company and had a German cast and crew, really says a lot about how the country is eventually coming to terms with those twelve years of Nazi rule.

This film is a modern classic and will certainly be in my collection the day it comes out.

Downfall is well worth a watch (even if you dont like subtitles). The vocal and physical resemblance of several key Ministers and members of the Nazi party being portrayed are quite haunting and the film is led by a fantastic cast consisting of - Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Juliane Köhler, Heino Ferch as well as Ulrich Matthes and Corinna Harfouch playing Josef and Magda Goebbels respectively.

The film displays the politics and infighting within the bunker during these last days, it also displays Hitlers ruthless beliefs in Darwinism and the survival of only those who fight and kill for it (including his own people).

It is a fascinating and brilliant film. A MUST see.

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A Cinematic Triumph

RJTaylor from London , 10/10/2005

A number of reviewers say here that Downfall was overlong; I can honestly say that I hadn't noticed its length until I looked at the 149 min duration just now. The film kept me captivated throughout.

Downfall is a very, very good film. Certainly heavy subject matter, and the subtitles will certainly deter some viewers, but Downfall would be much less of a film had it been made in English.

The characters are all thoroughly convincing, and the infighting and internal politics within the high-ranking members of the Nazi party add an unfamiliar - dare I say it - humanity to the names made familiar to me by school history lessons.

Bruno Ganz's Hitler is remarkable. Instead of the pompous demon which we are commonly shown, Ganz brings to the table a portrayal of a desperate man who, as his entire life's work crumbles around him, tries to square off his unfaltering faith in the future of the aryan race with the irrefutable and gathering evidence of its failure. Ganz's performance is so convincing, adding such a real dimension to one of the most evil men that ever lived, that you almost begin to feel sorry for him as we watch him quickly descend into mental and physical decline. However, it isn't long before we are chillingly reminded of his true colours when he expresses his gladness in 'cleansing the German population of the Jews'.

Downfall is a marvellously written, well directed, well cast and well acted piece of work which shows the upper ranks of the Nazi party with a human face. It is this that, rather than evoking sympathy for their actions, makes the events of WWII all the more horrifying.

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Provokative and compelling film...

Miff from London , 13/04/2005

An excellent film that deserves to be regarded with the same status as other classics such as Saving Private Ryan and Schindlers List. The subject matter, which focuses on Hitler and his top brass in his Berlin bunker during the dying days of the war, has a refreshing perspective and the fact that it is all in German makes it all the more authentic and involving. It provokes all the familiar emotions about the futility of war and the pointless loss of countless lives, but in doing so, it also gives a compelling insight into the madness of the German war-room and indeed into Hitlers own thought process.

The film is based on two historical books which lends the film its authority but the realism is truly brought home by the brilliant acting, in particular by Bruno Ganz, who plays Hitler.

The subject matter means that this film won't be for everyone but if you are in the slightest bit interested then I highly recommend that you watch it as it is a gripping and enlightening piece of work that deserves to be shown to the widest possible audience.

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Just Fantastic

JB from Bath UK , 25/05/2006

Despite a few blips on the beginning of this DVD it had me mesmerised for the full 149 minutes(it did not seem that long)

The performance of Bruno Ganz as Hitler is brilliant as is all the cast in a movie which makes you feel how useless a war is and the lost of human life is tragic

Full marks to the camera men for their super photography

The film deserves a ten star rating

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a hit (ler)

Dan from skipton , 09/07/2006

really good,clever the way it focuses on hitlers secretary showing how normal people can be led into doing the wrong thing so easily. reminds you how unbelievably evil the nazis were

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