Exceptional film charts Hitler's final days
FEW DVDs will have the power and impact of Downfall (Momentum), already one of my top five releases of the year.
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, this story of the final days of Hitler’s reign is played out mainly in his Berlin bunker as the enemy closes in. Bruno Ganz delivers an amazing performance in the lead role.
His Hitler displays some trace of humanity, but he is mainly convulsed by the chaos ensuing as he tries to direct phantom armies — already destroyed or encircled — and berates officers for refusing to defeat the enemy. A very powerful film, it lingers long after the credits have rolled.
This double-disc release includes an excellent Making of, cast and filmmaker interviews, a behind the scenes with director’s commentary and a visual tour of the bunker. Exceptional.
