The view inside Hitler's bunker is a hauntingly memorable one.
Video: Given the somber palette—the gray and earth tones and lingering smoke—which, of course, mirrors the tone of the film, the picture quality is surprisingly sharp. "Downfall" is mastered in High Definition and presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1 ratio), yet I only noticed the clarity when I popped in another dvd that suffered by comparison. That says something, though I'm not sure what.
Audio: "Downfall" is a German-language film with English subtitles, mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. There's plenty of bass and rich resonance, with great distribution of sound effects across the speakers—especially for exterior scenes of renegade officers rounding up and executing confused citizens who are only trying to save themselves, or those encounters between those adoring Hitler youth and the Russian tanks.
Extras: At first glance, the "making of" feature is pretty standard stuff. There's a clip from the film, followed by an interview on set with an actor from the clip, followed by footage of the filming and production—which then segues into another final print clip from the film and another actor. But as each actor talks about the film, the character he/she plays, and their take on the character, you begin to realize that this is bigger than a film. What the actors are talking about is a reflection on the German people's continual and evolving struggle to come to terms with this bleak chapter in their nation's history. Ganz and others said they had to wrestle with "ethical considerations" in order to play their parts, and some of the actors said that even then they found it difficult to give 100 percent. There was a part of them that was so repulsed by their characters and the crimes that these people committed against humanity that they said it was impossible to totally immerse themselves in the role. Still, all of the characters come across as chillingly believable.
This documentary also conveys the concerns that everyone had in making a film about a man who was essentially a mass murderer with a Rasputin-like ability to seduce people to follow and obey him. "Charismatic" conjures up too positive a connotation for this demonic creature, but Hitler had something that drew people to him—even now, 60 years later. If you're reading this, you know what I mean. There's something about this little corporal and his rants that still prompt us to press our noses to the glass and watch. The actors and filmmakers talk about the aspects of Hitler that both repel and attract us, with Ganz summarizing that Hitler was "a kind of religious freak" who appealed to the public's desire for better economic conditions and revived a widespread spirit of nationalism and "patriotism" in order to gain power, adding how his belief in "miracles and mysteries" also played a large part in his being able to deflect criticism and inspire people to continue to do as he directed. In short, for a "making of" feature, this one is exceptional. As with the film itself, the interviews with the cast are in German, with English subtitles.
The commentary track is also exceptional. If you haven't read either of the books upon which "Downfall" is based, don't worry. Hirschbiegel walks us through the actualities, pointing out characters as they make their entrances and giving historical footnotes throughout that help us better understand this subtle film. Example? As we see Hitler and others emerge from the bunker, Hirschbiegel tells us how this often-shown view is misleading—that it's the emergency exit, and not the main entrance/exit to the extensive underground system of multiple levels and rooms. Hirschbiegel calls the film a "harmonizing cooperation between two historians," himself and Ganz, each of whom did meticulous research. "Every text, every action" in the film "has been historically documented." Hirschbiegel chooses not to show Hitler's suicide, for example, because no one was in the room to say how it happened. So what we see in this film is a composite crafted from eyewitness accounts, both oral and written.
Bottom Line: People always wonder how a nation could be led so far astray, but despite his monstrous actions, Hitler remains an intriguing, if not charismatic, figure. Those who are fascinated by WWII history and accounts of the Third Reich will find "Downfall" especially compelling. Those who have no interest in this era will probably think the film a bit long, but even if the subject matter and storyline doesn't capture them, they'll still walk away feeling that this was a well-made film with incredible performances. Only minutes into the film, Ganz is able to make us believe that he is Hitler, and the other actors are also able to make us forget this is a movie.
Audio: "Downfall" is a German-language film with English subtitles, mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. There's plenty of bass and rich resonance, with great distribution of sound effects across the speakers—especially for exterior scenes of renegade officers rounding up and executing confused citizens who are only trying to save themselves, or those encounters between those adoring Hitler youth and the Russian tanks.
Extras: At first glance, the "making of" feature is pretty standard stuff. There's a clip from the film, followed by an interview on set with an actor from the clip, followed by footage of the filming and production—which then segues into another final print clip from the film and another actor. But as each actor talks about the film, the character he/she plays, and their take on the character, you begin to realize that this is bigger than a film. What the actors are talking about is a reflection on the German people's continual and evolving struggle to come to terms with this bleak chapter in their nation's history. Ganz and others said they had to wrestle with "ethical considerations" in order to play their parts, and some of the actors said that even then they found it difficult to give 100 percent. There was a part of them that was so repulsed by their characters and the crimes that these people committed against humanity that they said it was impossible to totally immerse themselves in the role. Still, all of the characters come across as chillingly believable.
This documentary also conveys the concerns that everyone had in making a film about a man who was essentially a mass murderer with a Rasputin-like ability to seduce people to follow and obey him. "Charismatic" conjures up too positive a connotation for this demonic creature, but Hitler had something that drew people to him—even now, 60 years later. If you're reading this, you know what I mean. There's something about this little corporal and his rants that still prompt us to press our noses to the glass and watch. The actors and filmmakers talk about the aspects of Hitler that both repel and attract us, with Ganz summarizing that Hitler was "a kind of religious freak" who appealed to the public's desire for better economic conditions and revived a widespread spirit of nationalism and "patriotism" in order to gain power, adding how his belief in "miracles and mysteries" also played a large part in his being able to deflect criticism and inspire people to continue to do as he directed. In short, for a "making of" feature, this one is exceptional. As with the film itself, the interviews with the cast are in German, with English subtitles.
The commentary track is also exceptional. If you haven't read either of the books upon which "Downfall" is based, don't worry. Hirschbiegel walks us through the actualities, pointing out characters as they make their entrances and giving historical footnotes throughout that help us better understand this subtle film. Example? As we see Hitler and others emerge from the bunker, Hirschbiegel tells us how this often-shown view is misleading—that it's the emergency exit, and not the main entrance/exit to the extensive underground system of multiple levels and rooms. Hirschbiegel calls the film a "harmonizing cooperation between two historians," himself and Ganz, each of whom did meticulous research. "Every text, every action" in the film "has been historically documented." Hirschbiegel chooses not to show Hitler's suicide, for example, because no one was in the room to say how it happened. So what we see in this film is a composite crafted from eyewitness accounts, both oral and written.
Bottom Line: People always wonder how a nation could be led so far astray, but despite his monstrous actions, Hitler remains an intriguing, if not charismatic, figure. Those who are fascinated by WWII history and accounts of the Third Reich will find "Downfall" especially compelling. Those who have no interest in this era will probably think the film a bit long, but even if the subject matter and storyline doesn't capture them, they'll still walk away feeling that this was a well-made film with incredible performances. Only minutes into the film, Ganz is able to make us believe that he is Hitler, and the other actors are also able to make us forget this is a movie.
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