**_Hitler’s end_** As the Red Army encroaches upon Berlin in late April, 1945, the final days of Hitler in his bunker (Bruno Ganz) are told from the perspective of his secretary, Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara). "Downfall” (2004) is not a conventional war movie due to its downbeat subject and is more educational than entertaining, but it’s a necessary piece of the puzzle in understanding WW2. If you…
April 1945, a nation awaits its... Downfall
In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his generals and advisers to fight to the last man. When the end finally does come, and Hitler lies dead by his own hand, what is left of his military must find a way to end the killing that is the Battle of Berlin, and lay down their arms in surrender.
Top Cast
Bruno Ganz
Adolf Hitler
Alexandra Maria Lara
Traudl Junge
Corinna Harfouch
Magda Goebbels
Ulrich Matthes
Joseph Goebbels
Juliane Köhler
Eva Braun
Heino Ferch
Albert Speer
Christian Berkel
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck
Thomas Kretschmann
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein
Ulrich Noethen
Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler
Birgit Minichmayr
Gerda Christian
Rolf Kanies
General der Infanterie Hans Krebs
Justus von Dohnányi
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf
Michael Mendl
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling
André Hennicke
SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke
Christian Redl
Generaloberst Alfred Jodl
Götz Otto
SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Günsche
Reviews
Though he might not much like the compliment, Bruno Ganz is superb as the Führer in this dramatisation of his last few days in Berlin. If you saw George Schaefer’s attempt at this, with Anthony Hopkins in the title role (1981) then you’ll already have the gist of what occurs, but this has an altogether less dramatic, more natural, feel to it. It helps, of course, that those of us watching know now just how…
FAQ about Downfall
What is Downfall about?
In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his…
When was Downfall released?
Downfall was released in 2004.
What genres does Downfall belong to?
Downfall is categorised as Drama, History, War.
Who stars in Downfall?
The cast of Downfall includes Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler.