The Downfall

The Downfall is a film in which recounts the last few weeks of the Third Reich as remembered by a personal secretary of Adolf Hitler: Traudl Junge. Traudl now an elderly women, begins to reminisce about the last moments of the war inside Fuhrerbunker in Berlin. The memory begins two and a half years before the fall of Hitler on the day she was hired by Hitler. Detailed accounts commence on Hitler’s birthday the April 20, 1945. The scenes that follow depict events leading up to the death of Hitler.

In April of 1945, the Russians have advanced to the edges of the capital of the Third Reich: Berlin. German leaders have taken cover in the Fuher’s Bunker in the center of Berlin. Inside the stronghold many German generals consult with the Fuher on the next plan of action some optimistic and most realistic. Hitler was convinced that the 9th and 12th army would march together and deal a fatal blow to the advancing armies however; the 9th and 12th armies were virtually non-existent. Hitler begins to have massive moods swings from unrealistically optimistic to becoming enraged by treason and betrayal.

Adolf Hitler’s depiction in The Downfall was one that was very convincing, not by just what he says but by the actors devotion to the plot. As many may know, Hitler in his later years was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The gentleman who was assigned to play Hitler used very convincing techniques to portray the disease without going overboard. In addition, the anger that was expressed by Hitler in the movie not only looked real but also felt real. I felt as if I was personally betrayed when he spoke about the disobedient officers. Hitler was also losing his mind and as history reads, he makes some radical decisions about the war and surrendering. The actor’s passion for getting the story straight was one that actually convinced me as if I was there. The favorite parts of his acting in the movie were when any officer brought up the idea of surrendering; the passion...