The end

While it is certainly not enjoyable, Downfall is well worth seeing. The movie takes place in the last 30 days of Hitler's reign. Most of the action is in the bunker, with occasional flashes to the chaos in Berlin. At first, Hitler appears level-headed (if evil) but as the approaching doom becomes more apparent he becomes more and more unhinged. He berates his generals for being unable to stop the Red Army with their scattered and outnumbered armies. He notes that all the destruction in Berlin is a good thing, as it will make rebuilding the city so much easier after the Germans win. Eventually he turns on German civilians, arguing they didn't win so they don't deserve to win.

The horrid fate of ordinary Germans is made clear without excess pathos. Hitler won't allow the Army to evacuate civilians, right wing death squads knock off remaining enemies while there is still time, and children are conscripted to fight the Russians. The movie rarely shows the Russians and few of the Germans shown killed are killed by Soviets. Instead they are executed by other Germans or kill themselves. There is a frightening amount of suicide due to not wanting to live in a world "without National Socialism." Ian Kershaw, a historian of the Third Reich, wrote an interesting review about what this German movie means for Germany today and its relationship with its past. As Kershaw notes, this is the first German movie in which Hitler is portrayed by an actor.

Those familiar with the Nazi leadership will not be surprised at the oily, vile Goebbels, who along with his spouse, takes some of the most reprehensible actions in the film. What is slightly surprising is that the more conscientious (if not necessarily good) people tend to be SS as opposed to general Army. This may just be random and based on a few people, but I definitely took note.

On the subject of Nazis, have a look at this Disney produced propaganda short (Education for Death) from the war years. It is immensely effective and terribly sad, as it shows a sweet young boy turned into a cruel robot sent to a terrible fate. It serves as an excellent critique of Nazism, but also of us. vs. them ideology.