DVD
  | Downfall (aka: Der Untergang) (2 Discs)£4.99 Free DeliveryRRP: £19.99 | You save: £15.00 (75%) In stock | Usually dispatched within 24 hours |
- 'The Making Of Downfall' documentary (58 mins)
- Interviews with the filmmakers and members of the cast (55 mins)
- 'The Bunker': a virtual tour (13 mins)
- 'About Shooting': a behind the scenes look with audio commentary from director Oliver Hirschbiegel
- 'Shooting In Russia': a behind the scenes look with audio commentary from members of the production crew
- The historical figures and the actors who play them
- Biographies
April 1945, a nation awaits its... Downfall
Not since G.W. Pabst's 1956 effort, 'Letste Akt' (The Last Act) has a German film attempted to tackle the subject of their most famous leader, Adolf Hitler. Breaking a long-standing taboo, the director, Oliver Hirschbiegel, has made a film that has sparked much debate in Germany and the rest of the world.
Downfall features an astonishing performance by Bruno Ganz as history's most notorious figure. Providing an unprecedented and controversial insider's perspective, the film is a gripping insight into the madness and desperation of Hitler in the final hours of the war as the Russian Army closes a ring around Berlin. Beautifully photographed and brilliantly acted, this tour de force is at once dramatic, harrowing and remarkably authentic.
The basis for the screenplay by writer-producer Bernd Eichinger came from two key sources: Joachim Fest's book "Inside Hitler's Bunker: The Last Days of The Third Reich", the recognition that the horrifying epic of Hitler and his people during his twelve years in power was reflected in those last twelve days in the bunker; and the memoirs of Hitler's private secretary, Traudl Junge, in Melissa Mueller's book, "Until The Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary", which provided an invaluable insight into the character of the man, and those final, fatal few days of the war.
Average rating (9 reviews)
fantastic
albert17 | 17/07/2008 | See all albert17's reviews (1) »
Great film which I think comes across better in the German language. Like City of God it makes no difference that it is in subtitles. Bruno Ganz's performance is as good as anything you will see anywhere.
Simply Oustanding
Creddly | 20/02/2008 | See all Creddly's reviews (2) »
A brilliant film that gives great insight into the final days of the war from the Nazi perspective.
Bruno Ganz' performance as Adolf Hitler alone makes the film worth watching. But he wasn't the only brilliant casting choice - as the rest of the cast played their parts brilliantly!
The portrayal of the devotion towards Adolf Hitler and his ideals is nothing short of remarkable.
Dark.... emotional... FILM PERFECTION!
One Word: WOW!!
starcrossed90 | 05/01/2008 | See all starcrossed90's reviews (2) »
The first thing i can say about this film is that you havre to be interested in the subject to watch it. But if you think that you might like it then follow you instinct. I never knew about the film before. But i watched Goodbye Lenin in school a few years ago, and just couldn't stop there. The fact that it actually spoken in German raises to the top, But the facts, real honest facts, that something that cannot be faked. I think that it is amazing that they were brave enough to touch on such a, (still) sensitive historical event. If your not interested in the subject, it's acting, special effects, backdrop and most importantly Bruno Ganz! He amkes it all worth while. If youv'e seen you'll know what i mean, if you haven't watch it and you will.
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Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Corinna Harfouch, Juliane Kohler, Heino Ferch, Matthias Habich, Christian Berkel & Ulrich Noethen | |
15 years and over | |
2004 | |
1.78 Anamorphic Widescreen | |
German - Dolby Digital (5.1) ; DTS | |
English for the hearing impaired | |
2 hours and 35 minutes (approx) | |
Region 2 - Will only play on European Region 2 or multi-region DVD players. |
