The Downfall

[KulaShaker]

Has anyone else seen this movie? Very disturbing.

For those who haven't, it's an insight into the last days of Hitler. Extremely moving, the Germans managed to fit a huge amount of the horror of warfare into a two hour production. Very graphic - regardless of age or gender, nobody is spared from death in this film.

Sort of spoilers:
The most disturbing scenes I found were:

1. A woman was forced to kill her six children, the youngest looked about four and the eldest twelve
2. Two men being abused by Nazi officers then shot without reason.
3. Men being tied to lamposts and hung by the Germans for supporting the Russians
4. A young teenage girl asking to be shot. Her murderer then turned the gun upon himself

As I mentioned the movie is very moving and questions our values in regards to war. If you have the chance to see it do, even if you aren't particulary interested in history, war or Germany.

By the way, Reich (very loosely) means empire, or land.

 

[J-Man]

Somewhat suprising that it was a German production too. They are still very touchy about the whole WW2 and Nazi thing. The film portrayed Hitler as an unwell man, both mentally and physically, as well as how his followers continued to believe in him, even in the face of his madness.

A woman was forced to kill her six children, the youngest looked about four and the eldest twelve

This woman was the wife of Goebbels, and she was not forced to kill her children, in fact most people in the bunker pleaded with her not to kill them. She would rather they died than lived in a world without Nazi rule. Utter madness, and disturbing indeed.

Also, the sheer number of people who blow their own brains out in this movie is mind boggling.

I agree that Downfall was a stunning film,and is highly recommend.

 

[KulaShaker]

Ooh yes, my mistake. Was a bit sketchy on the subtitles, kept covering my eyes. I remember - "I don't want my children to live in a world where there is no National Socialism"