THE DOWNFALL (Der Untergang) - TV Film Review 1/4/06

Bruno Ganz does an all-to-good job is his supremely crafted role as Hitler in "Der Untergang" (The Downfall) which make's chilling viewing. I was surprised how quickly this came to TV and put a tape aside to catch this 2-hour film so I could watch it later giving it my full attention. If ever there was an anti-war film this would rank as one near the top of the list. The true horrors of war come out in this film like slivers of glass being rammed into your hand. The casual way that people fanatically commit suicide and murder at the pull of a trigger whilst the chaos of war rages around them in a maelstrom of fire, death, blood and explosions as an all too human madman; controls the last remnants of his deluded empire, grinding it into the earth of guts, shit and corpses. A horrifying view of the last days of Hitler; through largely his Personal Secretary's viewpoint in the Second World War, brings home man's inhumanity to man in all it's forms. The German language does not distract as the English Subtitles quite clearly convey the terror of it all. I would suggest if interested in seeing this film to go with the Region 2 2-Disc Version which give's a clearer view to the settings of the film in it's historical context.

USA (Region 1) 1-Disc DVD Cover R Rating

UK (Region 2) 2-Disc DVD Cover 15 Certificate

SPECIAL FEATURES: The UK (Region 2) DVD is a 2-Disc Set with The Making Of Downfall, Cast & Filmmakers Interviews, The Historical Personalities And Their Actors Biographies. The Bunker A Virtual Tour and Shooting In Russia Behind The Scenes Look With Production Crew Commentary plus About Shooting Behind The Scenes Look With Director's Commentary. The USA (Region 1) DVD is a single disc with just the Making Of and Cast & Crew Interviews. This is an RCE disc.