Analysis of the Movie Downfall

The movie takes place inside the bunker near Berlin, where Adolf Hitler and some of his associates spend their last days before dying. The movie dwells on the fail of the defense of Berlin and the misery of the civilian population. Besides, the film presents the scene of the burning of Hitler and Eva Braun’s bodies (Downfall, 2:40:00). It ventures out when capturing the burning of the bodies of Joseph and Magda Goebbels.

The film purposely captures the last days of Adolf Hitler and shows how Hitler and his inside circle spend time in the Berlin bunker. It depicts the final days of Hitler in detail, including the mass fanaticism in the regime’s earlier years and its progress until the bitter end.

The interesting and educative themes in the movie attract a large number of viewers. The theme of death in the film is captured in the aftermath of war. Hitler decides to commit suicide, and the movie ends when the bodies of Hitler’s and his compatriots are burnt outside the bunker. The other theme captured in the film is conflict, which appears to impact a large area. The other theme captured in the film is discrimination, where Hitler humiliate his fellow countrymen as weaklings. Hitler uses dictatorship and gives antisocial orders, such as brutal murdering, to his compatriots.

The plot and the setting of the movie signify the consequences of World War II, ranging from the loss of lives and the destruction of property. Precisely, the film’s setting captures the labyrinth of harshly lighted concrete corridors with constant passages back and forth of aides, servants, Blondi, Hitler’s dog, family members, and guards.

The movie’s quality screenplay, production values, and direction are all engaging. For instance, the presentation of Hitler’s overarching shows his magnetism. Moreover, the blind loyalty towards him from his lieutenants is impressive. Moreover, the film captures the working of the world behind closed doors of Hitler’s bunker. The movie earns a considerable appraisal for the quality depiction of World War II and the fall of defense of Berlin through the great action. The involvement of the greatest performers attracts viewers and contributes significantly to the quality of the movie. For example, Bruno Ganz demonstrates exceptional actor skills through his portrayal of Hitler. Furthermore, the film has strong casting support reflected in the flow of events from the Claus trophic underground scenes to and chaotically outdoor fights.

The film is historically accurate, which is supported by certain readings. According to the information gathered from The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer (1990) and The Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan (1995), the film is hitting all the highlights of the last days of Adolf Hitler. Moreover, Albert Speer’s (2003) Inside the Third Reich affirms various historically accurate elements of the movie.

Some of the weaknesses of the films include the linear plotting of the movie. Moreover, it has suffered from the weakness of representing another inner circle of Hitler rather than Hitler alone. Lastly, the movie does not capture a clear theme that can be explained by their action. On the other hand, the film derives its strength from the inclusion of leading performers of the time and the integration of stage that appears real and not imagery.

I would recommend Downfall for educational and leisure purposes. The movie has educative themes, integrates literary skills, and has interesting scenes that make the viewers want to watch the film repeatedly.

Works Cited

Downfall. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, performances by Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, and Ulrich Matthes, Constantin Film, 2004.

Ryan, Cornelius. Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin. Simon & Schuster, 1995.

Shirer, William. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany. 1st Touchstone, Simon & Schuster, 1990.

Speer, Albert. Inside the Third Reich. Orion Pub Co, 2003.