For students of history, particularly WWII, Downfall is a fascinating chronicle of Hitler’s last days based on the accounts of his former personal secretary.
The portrayal of Hitler is eerie. You see his mania, his delusions, and the intimidation of those around him, even when there is no hope for victory.
The scene wher Frau Goebbels poisons her children saying that “a future without National Socialism is not a future I want my children to see,” just showed in a particularly poignant way, the extent to which the belief system was a part of the German psyche.
I seem to recall that this movie created a bit of an uproar in Germany, but I don’t remember the details.
Definitely recommend it.
I should note that the movie is in German w/English subtitles, so…
Die chance mein Deutsch zu ueben hat mir gefallen.