Oliver Hirschbiegel’s biopic tells the story of the Fuhrer’s (Bruno Ganz) last days in the bunker in Berlin in 1945 from the perspective of one of his secretaries, Traudl (Alexandra Maria Lara).  The Russians are closing in, regularly bombarding the city with artillery, and Hitler is surrounded by his sycophantic generals and hangers-on, all jostling for his attention and fearful of his rages.

Ganz is superb. He seems to capture the Bavarian Corporal’s mannerisms perfectly and could well be in the Oscar nominations next year for best actor (if there’s any justice), whilst Lara admirably portrays the mixture of loyalty and fear of the young secretary. Hirschbiegel has tackled the subject in the same sensitive manner that Wolfgang Petersen handled Das Boot over twenty years ago, demonstrating the madness, fanaticism and sadness that the Nazis caused. Clocking in at two and a half hours it is a long haul, but definitely worth it.
(4½/5)

Release Date: 19 September 2005

Downfall