Downfall

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Downfall ★★★½ Der Untergang 2004 (R)

Controversial German film explores the last days of Hitler (Ganz) and his cronies in the bunker before the fall of Berlin in 1945. Overlong but engrossing look at the mundane, very human face of evil. Ganz is amazing in the role of a lifetime, virtually becoming the most hated man in history. All the smaller roles, Hitler's secretary Traudl Junge (Lara) for instance, are wonderfully fleshed out by an incredibly talented cast. 155m/C DVD . GE Bruno Ganz, Agustin Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Heino Ferch, Christian Berkel, Matthias Habich, Thomas Kretschmann, Ulrich Noethen, Goetz Otto, Juliane Koehler, Donevan Gunia; D: Oliver Hirschbiegel; W: Bernd Eichinger; C: Rainer Klausmann; M: Stephan Zacharias.

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