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Downfall

Original title: Der Untergang
  • 2004
  • R
  • 2h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
389K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
537
25
Downfall (2004)
DocudramaPolitical DramaTragedyBiographyDramaHistoryWar

Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.

  • Director
    • Oliver Hirschbiegel
  • Writers
    • Bernd Eichinger
    • Joachim Fest
    • Traudl Junge
  • Stars
    • Bruno Ganz
    • Alexandra Maria Lara
    • Ulrich Matthes
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    389K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    537
    25
    • Director
      • Oliver Hirschbiegel
    • Writers
      • Bernd Eichinger
      • Joachim Fest
      • Traudl Junge
    • Stars
      • Bruno Ganz
      • Alexandra Maria Lara
      • Ulrich Matthes
    • 726User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #126
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 22 wins & 34 nominations total

    Photos309

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    Top cast99

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    Bruno Ganz
    Bruno Ganz
    • Adolf Hitler
    Alexandra Maria Lara
    Alexandra Maria Lara
    • Traudl Junge
    Ulrich Matthes
    Ulrich Matthes
    • Joseph Goebbels
    Juliane Köhler
    Juliane Köhler
    • Eva Braun
    Corinna Harfouch
    Corinna Harfouch
    • Magda Goebbels
    Heino Ferch
    Heino Ferch
    • Albert Speer
    Christian Berkel
    Christian Berkel
    • Prof. Ernst-Günther Schenck
    Matthias Habich
    Matthias Habich
    • Prof. Werner Haase
    Thomas Kretschmann
    Thomas Kretschmann
    • Hermann Fegelein
    Michael Mendl
    Michael Mendl
    • General Weidling
    André Hennicke
    André Hennicke
    • General Mohnke
    Ulrich Noethen
    Ulrich Noethen
    • Heinrich Himmler
    Birgit Minichmayr
    Birgit Minichmayr
    • Gerda Christian
    Rolf Kanies
    Rolf Kanies
    • General Hans Krebs
    Justus von Dohnányi
    Justus von Dohnányi
    • General Wilhelm Burgdorf
    • (as Justus von Dohnanyi)
    Dieter Mann
    • Feldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel
    Christian Redl
    Christian Redl
    • General Alfred Jodl
    Götz Otto
    Götz Otto
    • Otto Günsche
    • Director
      • Oliver Hirschbiegel
    • Writers
      • Bernd Eichinger
      • Joachim Fest
      • Traudl Junge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews726

    8.2388.6K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Der Untergang' is acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of Hitler's final days, with Bruno Ganz's performance lauded for authenticity. The film's depiction of Nazi brutality and moral dilemmas is noted, along with its historical detail and refusal to glamorize. Some critics argue it humanizes Hitler too much and could explore Nazism and Jewish suffering more deeply. Minor criticisms include film length and repetitive scenes.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    johnmartin323

    A landmark performance

    I would give this an 7.5 or 8, if it were not for Bruno Ganz. In fact, I will dare say that the biggest crime surrounding this film is that Ganz was not lauded with every single acting award available. Never before has such dimensionality and care been applied to a performance of, quite possibly, the most vile human who ever lived (with the exception, perhaps, of his cohort Himmler). It's a confusing, sharp yet tender mix of sorrow, pity, anger, and ultimately, frustration.

    Initially, I figured this would be a very low budget chamber piece. But it is as epic in scope as a Spielberg war film, with effects to match. A real surprise. But don't be fooled by eye candy. Der Untergang is a human story. It is an amazing built film. And it is unreal. A must-see.
    8ma-cortes

    DOWNFALL is essential and indispensable watching for outstanding performance by Bruno Ganz

    The film deals with the history of Hitler's last days in underground bunker , it's the true story of the historic downfall and death (at age 55 in 1945) of the infamous Nazi dictator's culprit of death of 50 million people during second war world and killing of 6 million Jewish in concentration camps . The Fuhrer's last few tortured days in his underground bunker against a Berlin background . Hitler had height five feet , seven inches , eyes black , hair black , shaggy locks hung over forehead , complexion sallow , wide mustache , various hairs on each side ; besides he had marked devotion to brown shirts and old trench-coat and always surrounded by armed thugs and expert gunmen . He had demented gaze with tendency to become hysterical on slight provocation with delusions , particularly upon his place in history and his powers over vast numbers of people and addicted to public hysteria on race purity , and known to throw himself on the floor and gnaw rugs, guttural voice apt to rise to shrill tones when excited or thwarted . He was a congenital liar suffering from dreams of persecution . Almost all these physical descriptions and particulars of Hitler are perfectly incarnated by Bruno Ganz who even studied Parkinson's disease patients in a Swiss hospital to prepare for his role . Thus , he magnificently plays him as a sadistic , malicious , dangerous , vengeful, mystical and maniacal man .

    Bruno Ganz's portrayal is the perfection in the Hitler role one would expect at least on the surface , he gives insight to his madness and with persuasive qualities of his interpretation . A flawless casting with excellent German actors such as Alexandra Maria Lara (personal secretary Traudl Junge and the picture is based on his book) as co-protagonist , Juliane Kohler (Eva Braun) and distinguished players as Ulrich Matthes (Joseph Goebbles) , Corinna Harfouch (Magda Goebbles) and Thomas Kretschman . Besides , a nice support cast who play to famous characters as Martin Borman , Alber Speer , General Keitel , General Jodl and Hermann Goering and specially Heimrich Himmler who will betray to Hitler deciding along with the count Bernardotte to agree peace with the Allies , originating his hysteria splendidly reflected in the movie . In spite of Berlin is surrounded and meanwhile the bloody war with enormous bombing fall about the survivors and last defending , Hitler prepares the sad farewell very well narrated by the director Oliver Hirschbiegel and superbly captured the atmosphere by the cameras . The motion picture is one of the best war movies ever made , on pair with ¨Das Boot (also German movie and directed by Wolfgang Petersen) and ¨Saving private Ryan¨ (Steven Spielberg) . The flick will appeal to historical cinema enthusiasts and warlike genre fans. Rating : Above average and astounding , being interesting and thoughtful .
    9Galina_movie_fan

    "You have to feel that Hitler was a human being; only then he is a real horror."

    The first internationally released German production to feature Hitler as a central figure, "Downfall" (2004) takes place in the dismal gloomy Berlin during April - May 1945 in anticipation of the inevitable German defeat. The film shows the last days of Hitler and those close to him through the eyes of his young secretary, Traudl Junge.

    Oliver Hirschbiegel's film has been criticized by some circles as presenting a "too sympathetic" portrait of the Fuhrer. I don't believe anything in the film suggests that its creators sympathize with the Nazi regime and those who had orchestrated it.

    Showing Hitler as a human being (amazing performance by Bruno Ganz), a man who loved his dog, was a vegetarian and could display some moments of tenderness did not undermine the overall image of a lonely, domineering, conscienceless, and hateful man who believed that his people, his compatriots, women and children deserve to die because they are no longer deserve to live and because "in a war as such there are no civilians".

    Did those who think that that the film "humanized" Hitler forget the most chilling scene in the movie, the one that shows Frau Goebbels crush the ampoules with cyanide between her children's teeth, after they had been dosed with a sleeping draught? She did it not because she was scared of what would happen to them after the war, no, her reason was, "The country without National Socialism and its party is not worth living in". How dangerous Hitler was if he could induce such a blind devotion that could convince a mother of six to murder her children in cold blood.

    Bernd Eichinger, the producer and scriptwriter of "Downfall" emphasized, the greatest danger he saw in making a film about Hitler was the temptation to show him as a psychopath or madman: "Hitler possessed an enormous criminal and destructive energy, and he was a barbarian in the most fundamental sense of the term... But I am convinced that he was totally of sound mind until the very end, which is why leadership never slipped from his hands."

    The film's director Oliver Hirschbiege says that, in the same way it was evil of Hitler to see Jews as less than human beings - i.e. as "insects" - it would be equally wrong to portray Hitler as a madman, because that would excuse him of culpability: "I think the biggest mistake is to have an image of Hitler as insane - that he was not a human being but a monster. The most important point to realize is that Hitler was not a madman, not a psychopath or someone on drugs, which implies that he wasn't responsible for what he was doing. Of course he was responsible! "For me, (this film is) paying homage to and truly honoring the victims, because we fall short if we explain the Holocaust by stating that they were all out of their minds. They knew what they were doing!"

    I believe that the result of their work, the film I saw last night is absolutely unforgettable - honest, powerful and devastating. It is a masterwork of film-making and a very important in its objectivity historical document.

    9.5/10
    9sjcsiba

    this is the best....

    Who better to make a WWII film than the Germans themselves? This is possibly the best WWII film I have seen yet. It is a very intense movie about the final days of Adolf Hitler (a SUPERB roll played by Bruno Ganz, he should get at least one Oscar for this...) which had me coming back to see the movie a second and even a third time (I saw T3 only twice, he he). And not only Bruno Ganz has done a great performance, the entire cast gives it all their best. Very good film indeed.

    As I said, it's a film about Adolf Hitlers final days, trapped in a bunker in Berlin, while the Russians are slowly moving closer. Hitler losing his faith in a 'good' outcome, the final bullet, everything is has happened for real. But when I left the cinema I had the idea I had just been watching a fictional story. A perfect script, made in real life 59 years ago. Not much to say about anything else. If you are interested in WWII stuff, go see it in the cinema, it's worth every penny.
    duret-1

    The Best WWII movie ever.

    'Der Untergang' is probably the only WW2 movie I've ever seen, which only deals with facts and is utterly deprived of any form of commercialism whatsoever. Bruno Ganz is truly excellent in his role as Adolf Hitler, a tired man who sees his "Reich" fall, but cannot accept it. Overall (type)casting is very good; all the actors chosen to portray a famous/notorious character look a lot like the real deal, especially Goebbels. Although I'm not a fan of long war movies, these 2,5 hours passed very quickly due to excellent acting, great sets, FX and storyline. Somehow, every scene is dripping with underlying tension that never really explodes; a kind of unsettling unbelieved grips you when you see seemingly ordinary people commit astonishing atrocities and sins towards mankind, just for their faith and loyalty to one man, Hitler, who himself walks the edge of reason.

    Great movie : 10/10 without a doubt.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of the outdoor city scenes for the movie were filmed in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This was for two reasons: one, the architecture of the city has many Germanic aspects, and two, there are plenty of streets with little or no modern advertisements and other commercial aspects.
    • Goofs
      In the film, Hermann Fegelein is shown as being arrested, dragged outside and summarily shot. In fact, Fegelein was arrested and kept in a cell for at least three days in the Führerbunker before Hitler ordered him stripped of rank and to be subjected to court martial, during which he was so drunk he vomited and urinated on the floor. It was only after the court martial that he was shot.
    • Quotes

      Adolf Hitler: That was an order! Steiner's assault was an order! Who do you think you are to dare disobey an order I give? So this is what it has come to! The military has been lying to me. Everybody has been lying to me, even the SS! Our generals are just a bunch of contemptible, disloyal cowards.

      General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf: I can't permit you to insult the soldiers.

      Adolf Hitler: They are cowards, traitors and failures!

      General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf: My fuhrer, this is outrageous!

      Adolf Hitler: Our generals are the scum of the German people! Not a shred of honour! They call themselves generals. Years at military academy just to learn how to hold a knife and fork! For years, the military has hindered my plans! They've put every kind of obstacle in my way! What I should have done... was liquidate all the high-ranking officers, as Stalin did!

    • Crazy credits
      After the final credits there is a statement by the real Traudl Jung about her feelings of guilt and responsibility. In the British Cinema release, this is moved to before the credits.
    • Alternate versions
      Extended version includes 22 minutes of additional footage.
    • Connections
      Edited from Im toten Winkel - Hitlers Sekretärin (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      When I Am Laid In Earth
      from "Dido and Aeneas"

      Composed by Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

      Arranged by Horst Liebenau and Stephan Zacharias

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    FAQ25

    • How long is Downfall?Powered by Alexa
    • Does this movie attempt to show Hitler in a sympathetic light?
    • Is 'Downfall' based on a book?
    • Was Hitler as short as Bruno Ganz, the actor who played him?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Austria
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • German
      • Russian
      • French
      • Hungarian
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La caída
    • Filming locations
      • St. Petersburg, Russia
    • Production companies
      • Constantin Film
      • Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR)
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €13,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,509,040
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,195
      • Feb 20, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $92,181,574
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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