Der Untergang

Der Untergang tells the story of Adolf Hitler and his closest confidants in the final days before the fall of the Nazi regime. We see him in his bunker, as he slowly loses control of the war, but also of his mind and body.

It’s an altogether terrifying movie. However, unfortunately, it’s not precisely news to us. We already know Hitler was a monster and we know of the atrocities he orchestrated. So, as a history lesson, it doesn’t have much to offer. But as an overall experience, this will stay with me for a while.

Technically, the movie is well-acted, well-structured, and absolutely compelling. Because so much of it is set in the bunker where Hitler would eventually take his own life, it’s claustrophobic to say the least. It’s darkly lit and murky, and the camera follows Hitler through dark corridors, mirroring his mind in a way.

This is no easy watch. It’s slow, and because of the subject matter, there isn’t exactly anyone we can root for. Some scenes were harder than others though — that of the Goebbels family ending their lives was absolutely horrifying.

Finally, I have to mention Bruno Ganz who plays Hitler. I sure hope he won a whole bunch of awards for that role, because I was terrified of him. Very impressive work by him, and I hope to see more of him in the future.

So in conclusion: good movie, excellent acting, horrifying subject matter — but mostly stuff you already know.