Downfall

I was fortunate enough to attend the world gala of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall in Toronto last year, and although the director didn't have much to say before hand, other than crediting his cast for their efforts, everything that needed to to be said was done so in the film. The German nation has been receptive of introspection through the last 20 years, as a good share of films have successfully tackled the Nazi subject and were subsequently embraced by the country. Previously Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan focused on aspects of the Jewish plight and hardships of the U.S. soldier during their invasion towards the end of the war, however much like Enemy At The Gates, Downfall delivers the same theme from a new and unseen perspective.

Downfall begins its journey from the perspective of Hitler's personal secretary Traudl Junge, who's introduced in a scene where the führer chooses his latest stenographer from a selection of candidates. The excitement of the potentials is palpable as they await the Fuhrer's decision on who he'll grant the honour of serving him. They view him as a rock star, indeed something even more than that. Much of Downfall was sourced from Junge's accounts of the German command's last days in Hitler's bunker. Although she served Hitler personally, Junge was a civilian, and didn't commit a crime through wartime Germany. She was able to live out the last of her days free and comfortably in Germany.

Beginning with Junge, Downfall often moves outside of the relationship that she shared with Hitler, telling the stories of many who lived out their last days in the bunker. Eva Braun was the party girl who seemed to be living in a complete state of denial, or schizophrenia, as she danced an tables, drank exceedingly and partied as the country crumbled around her. She seemed to be anything but a match for a man that was for the most part a the quiet, reserved Hitler.

Of course, that's where the film centres and where the subject lies, Hitler. In Junge's observations, he was a man who was compassionate, thoughtful and respectful at one point, seemingly more human than most as a man, but then would say the most awful, cruel things as the leader of a country. Very few people who shared space with Hitler through his reign escaped the end of the war with their lives, so this kind of insight into the führer's personal life was rare, and Junge had a unique perspective. Most of those who shared the bunker with Hitler were laden with a sense of unmistakable duty and servitude towards Hitler, and although Junge was always the model employee, her confusion with the two different Hitlers she worked for gave her a different perspective, it kept her detached from her country's leader. Essentially it saved her life. While others in the bunker saw no reason in living if their leader was not around to guide them, she saw reason to end her life.

Others are painted as even more detached from reality than either Braun or Hitler himself. Blindly following him was his loyal second in command Joeseph Goebbels, who eventually became the German commander for a short time after Hitler's death. He followed every order and every command loyally, no matter how nonsensical or insane. Even as Hitler fired off order after order to military commanders who told him there was no further chance of winning this battle, or taking that front, there was no doubting that Germany would prevail if Hitler commanded it as such, and said it would be so.

Bruno Ganz delivers a powerful performance as Hitler. Giving one of the greatest monsters of humanity an eerie human edge. Indeed Hirschbiegel was right to thank his ensemble. There's so many actors bringing to life those who orchestrated how Germany reacted, and ultimately was defeated in its last days. From child killing mothers to desperate and disillusioned followers and quiet, resigned advisers, the characters were each defined by how they behaved in the last few days before the downfall of Germany. It's a powerful film, one that almost lends sympathy to their impending doom. These people were human after all. Downfall won't do much to change how we view the greater impact of WWII, but maybe it will let some see, that even the most well intentioned are perhaps the most misguided people around.


out of ten

Reviewed by Paul Boschen

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