Posted on 07/29/2024 10:29:05 AM PDT by lowbridge
Every historical drama bears an awesome responsibility to its real-life subjects, but few films bore a weightier burden than Oliver Hirschbiegel's 2004 masterpiece, Downfall.
While it was certainly not the first film to portray Adolf Hitler, it does have the distinction of being the first major German film to tackle the topic, with the legendary Bruno Ganz in the lead role.
Hirschbiegel and screenwriter Bernd Eichinger recognized the awesome responsibility that was before them, along with the potential controversy they might face for telling the story of the last days of World War II.
The national taboos associated with Hitler had been enough to scare off a generation of filmmakers before them, but rather than shirk the responsibility and give in to tired clichés and cheap caricature, the makers of Downfall deliver one of the most authentically realized historical movies ever made.
After 20 years, Downfall remains an extremely important film, and a symposium in itself on how to handle tough history in an adroit and sensitive manner.
How Does 'Downfall' Get Historical Drama Right?
Bernd Eichinger had wanted to make a film about the final days of Adolf Hitler for decades before realizing his goal, with the feat proving too massive in scope and rife with potential controversy. Director Oliver Hirschbiegel was hesitant himself to take on the project, knowing the subject had always been taboo among Germans.
Both men fully grasped the severity of what they were attempting to do, and so endeavored to make a film that handled its historical obligation in the best way it could: by telling the truth.
The only way to accurately portray Adolf Hitler would be to research as many eyewitness accounts of the man as possible, with Eichinger researching tirelessly to capture the facts as succinctly as he could.
(Excerpt) Read more at collider.com ...
See it again.A true classic!
I’m partial to Howard Hugh’s “Hell’s Angles” He used real WW I aircraft. When they crash that big biplane bomber is amazing, those things were very agile. The out-takes from that scene are pretty amazing too.
That’s epic.
I remember when Brown was elected. The theory for those of us outside of Massachusetts was that Teddy was probably elected via the Kennedy machine. I mean, yeah, he probably got a ton of legit votes, but at some point the next gen of voters would not want an accomplice to murder representing them.
Once he was dead, the machine folded and a REAL election was held.
“See it again.A true classic!”
As soon as it stops raining I will run out to Blockbuster.
It’s supposed to be the situation briefing of April 22, 1945, as best as can be reconstructed from witness accounts. What made it “special” was not Hitler’s tantrum (not unusual behavior for him) but that he admitted to his inner circle, for the first time, that the war was lost.
Yeah that one is supposed to be amazing. Not sure I ever saw it.
I believe the CD I have has the English soundtrack. However, Downfall must be watched with the original German dialog soundtrack with English subtitles.
That’s one of the things that makes it so appealing. Hearing it in German.
When you are under low light conditions long enough and you have young & healthy eyes, you compensate to a degree that the lighting is just fine. (Conversely, people who have been trapped in the dark for long periods (mines, caves) need dark shielding in daylight conditions for a while.)
IMO the lighting in Das Boot was appropriate.
I quit watching Inglorious Bastards. It wasn’t about fighting a war, it was revenge and murder. Not good for your soul to invite that in.
Lots of great war movies out there, a few of my favorites: Stalingrad (1993); Attack! (1956); Das Boot (1981); Battleground (1949); The Train (1964); Von Ryan’s Express (1965)
The filmmakers actually tried to have those videos stopped by exercising their copyright. They went to court but they lost. Bruno Ganz himself wasn’t too fond of the parody videos, though he admitted they were pretty clever.
Hitler actor Bruno Ganz interview about Youtube Downfall Parodies
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4YLqC3DIgjY
I believe this video, is itself a parody.
Many people have commented that the subtitles are inaccurate!
If so, it’s fantastic.
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