Downfall

Tonight I went with a foreign film called Downfall or in German Der Untergang. The movie is in German with English subtitles. Now I am not going to lie this is a depressing movie. Believe it or not I watched it on Christmas Day. I wouldn't recommend watching it on such a festive holiday, but I would recommend watching it.

As you can tell from the image it is a movie about Adolf Hitler. As you are probably aware as the allied forces were closing in on Hitler and Berlin was nearing collapse Hitler was hiding out in the Wolf's Liar. He was there with his lover Eva Braun. This movie documents what happens as is told by Hitler's personal secretary Traudl Junge. According to her account (which has neither been proven or disproven) Hitler and Braun commit suicide in the Wolf's Liar. The movie also follows the lives of several other Nazis and their families. Each one reacts to the fall of their beloved Third Reich in different ways.

Downfall was nominated in 2005 for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It didn't win the Oscar but was definately worthy of the nomination. It did win a Bambi for Best German Film. It won an audience award at the Bavarian Film Awards. And, amongst others, it won a Best Actor award (Bruno Ganz) at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Anyway, if you have a pension for history and a good old fashion drama Downfall is for you. Don't let the fact that the movie is spoken in German scare you away. Foreign film takes some getting used to, even when you speak the language, but it is worth it. Now go check it out!