"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Weekly Movie Recommendations : 31st January 2009 - 6th February 2009

Der Untergang aka Downfall (2004)



Language - German

Genre - Drama/History/War

Directed By - Oliver Hirschbiegel

Cast - Bruno Ganz, Alexander Maria Lara

Whats It About - Traudl Junge (Lara), the final secretary for Adolf Hitler (Ganz), tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.

Why To Watch It - This is almost perfect cinema, beautifully shot, acted, lit, staged and on and on.

What we have here is an exercise in patience. A film that allows us to watch the disintegration of the largest empire in modern history, from the inside out. Beginning after the start of the siege of Berlin, the bulk of the film takes place in the cramped bunkers below the city, where Hitler and his officers are trapped like rats on a sinking ship, aware of their fate, but not smart enough, not willing enough, or maybe incapable of escaping the fates they created for themselves.

This is a daring, brilliant film with a virtuoso performance by Bruno Ganz as Hitler. He shows us that beneath the genocidal, world changing shell of hatred that the globe knew, Hitler was still that petty, hate filled, failed art-student that he was before becoming the greatest villain in history.

This movie will definitely touch you ! Simply Awesome !



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