Genre: History / War
Duration: 155 minuten / 178 minuten (extended version)
Alternative titles: Downfall / The Downfall
Country:
Germany / Italy / Austria
Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Stars: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara and Corinna Harfouch
IMDb score:
8,2 (405.341)
Releasedate: 16 September 2004
Der Untergang plot
"April 1945, a nation awaits its... Downfall"
The German tyrant Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) spends the last days of his rule in his bunker below Berlin. The Red Army has surrounded Berlin with great force majeure, mainly causing civilian casualties. The bunkers are full of badly battered soldiers and there is a lack of nursing and medicines. Hitler does not want to leave Berlin under any circumstances and, after celebrating his 56th birthday with Eva Braun and his accomplices, finds himself in a hopeless situation.
Actors and actresses
Adolf Hitler
Traudl Junge
Magda Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Eva Braun
Albert Speer
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein
Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler
Gerda Christian
Reviews & comments
IH88
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- 9905 messages
- 3206 votes
Der Untergang
Fascinating and impressive film. The last days of Hitler in the bunker is of course an interesting subject for a film and if everything is also approached to perfection you have a real masterpiece. The direction is brilliant and just those short fragments of the real Traudl Junge at the beginning and end of the film make Der Untergang even more impactful.
I actually thought that the majority of the film would take place in the bunker, but there are still a striking number of outdoor scenes that show the war in all its horror. The desperation of the German soldiers but also the determination and loyalty to Hitler is fascinating to see. But of course there are also plenty of questions about whether the war will continue to the bitter end. Hitler himself at one point is all paranoia and madness and he hardly trusts anyone anymore. Masterfully played by Ganz. The bunker creates an oppressive atmosphere of paranoia, madness, drunkenness, fear, despair, but also loyalty to the bitter end. The chilling atmosphere also grips the viewer and there are a number of scenes that left me breathless watching. Besides Ganz I also loved Maria Lara, Harfouch (goosebumps), Matthes (those eyes!!) and Berkel but actually there are no weak links. I found the whole premise of Der Untergang particularly interesting, but when everything fits together so well... A German crown jewel of a film.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Brandt
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- 368 messages
- 296 votes
Watched it again recently and it remains a very powerful film. Very nice that WWII is not approached from the Hollywood perspective and that Germans also speak German instead of gibberish English. Together with Das Boot perhaps the best in war. From which I conclude that Die Duistser are not only good at conquering Europe, but also at filming the misdeeds that went with it.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Filmkriebel
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- 10326 messages
- 4839 votes
Unfortunately my opinion about the film was ruined by wanting to react. 
I'll just type the essence in a shortened version...
Raw drama about the last days of the Third Reich, with a fine role by Bruno Gantz, who impresses with a cleverly rehearsed role of Adolf Hitler. The trembling hand, the intonation of the voice, the anger... don't think there will ever be another actor who will portray Hitler better than him. The most painful scene for me is that in which Mrs. Goebbels (ie Magda) kills her children with cyanide .
It's also amazing how the atmosphere changes from a busy bunker where people still work and live to the graveyard silence at the end. Sometimes difficult to follow due to the many characters, although I attribute that to the director's perfectionism in trying to make something good out of it.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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