Der Untergang / Downfall

[Foxxo]

What a fucked up movie.

It's kinda remarkable. You see things slowly unwind. The violence gets gradually worse. The survivors get more and more detached. You see these horrible people act as humans, even people like Goebbels who are essentially Synths. You see people who just seemed misguided at first do some really horrifying shit (Goebbels's wife), and you see some detestable people do some things that you would probably also do in the same situation (Fegelein).

Hitler's suicide is built up for 20-80 minutes, and then happens without fanfare. They do not show the face, and they barely show the body.

It's an excellent movie, but it's terrible at the same time. It's also free on YouTube, with ads.

 

[Foxxo]

EDIT: Oh, the wife was more bothered by what she did than Goebbels... I might have to rewatch this to determine how much of a skinwalker Goebbels is.

 

[Gog & Magog]

I like the movie. It's wonderful. Of course, it is based on memoirs by people who were there and had a motive to minimise their own roles in everything. Still, it's an awesome tragedy and one of the best German films I've ever seen. BTW I don't think this film deserves it's own thread.

 

[NvII iS 8ulLt f0R 88C]

As a kid I watched fuck tons of downfall parodies to the point where I could replicate the lines by Hitler and his staff. This led to me getting sent to the principal because I was drawing swastikas and quoting Hitler.

 

[cybertoaster]

Hitler's suicide is built up for 20-80 minutes, and then happens without fanfare.

That's the point, he died like a bitch.

Either die in battle or let the enemy execute you turning you into a martyr, but don't anhero in a bunker like a wimp.

 

[Enig]

Possibly the best WWII film made in terms of keeping accuracy while not slipping into a bias for either side of the war, there's no glory or painting one side over the other, it's all crushing reality as the most deluded people left in the end party as the city burns up into their improvised living room.

 

[Pokemon Conquistador]

People accused Bruno Ganz was humanizing Hitler, but he portrayed him as a bitter loser who blamed everyone but himself for Germany's defeat. He also wanted to raze his own country to the ground for not being "strong enough" to carry out his dream. Anyone who has a positive view of Hitler after watching this film is deluding themselves.

Another movie that's similar to Downfall is "The Bunker" starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitler. It's not as realistic, but it delves more into his relationship with Albert Speer.

 

[Breadbassket]

Der Untergang is a good film. Love the contrast between the remnants of the German military and the Hitler Youth struggling to halt the Soviet advance with citizens trying to flee as a battle rages around them meanwhile Hitler yells at generals and rants about armies that only exist on paper in his bunker.