In 2005 Ganz told The Guardian newspaper that he spent four months preparing for the role, studying historical records including a secretly-recorded tape of Hitler and observing people with Parkinson's disease, which he came to believe the dictator had. In den Strassen der Hauptstadt tobt der Häuserkampf. Der Untergang ist ein Politdrama von Oliver Hirschbiegel mit Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara und Ulrich Noethen. [14][13], When Bruno Ganz was offered the role of Hitler, he was reluctant to accept the part, and many of his friends advised against accepting it,[4][16] but he believed that the subject had "a fascinating side", and ultimately agreed to take the role. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on 14 September 2004. The Swiss actor died at home in Zurich on Friday night, his management said. Jessen also said that it was not as spectacular as the pre-media coverage could have led one to believe, and it did not arouse the "morbid fascination" the magazine Der Spiegel was looking for. [20][21] Hirschbiegel noted the depressing atmosphere surrounding the shoot, finding relief through listening to Johann Sebastian Bach's music. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels assumes the Chancellorship. By 2010, there were thousands of parodies. [clarification needed][61][58], Hirschbiegel spoke positively about these parodies in a 2010 interview with New York magazine, saying that many of them were funny and a fitting extension of the film's purpose. [8] Ganz said that he was proud of the film; though he said people had accused him of "humanizing" Hitler. In den Straßen der Hauptstadt tobt der Häuserkampf. Rated the #14 best film of 2004, and #794 in the greatest all-time movies (according to RYM users). Ebert said Hitler was, in reality, "the focus for a spontaneous uprising by many of the German people, fueled by racism, xenophobia, grandiosity and fear". Hirschbiegel eventually agreed to helm the project. The ring is passed from person to person, and it is not yet clear who Ganz had intended to transfer it to after his death. Hitler (BRUNO GANZ) hat sich mit einigen Generälen und engsten Vertrauten im Führerbunker der Reichskanzlei verschanzt. Schenck witnesses civilians being executed by German military police as supposed traitors. Bruno Ganz ist der Star der Stars im RAF-Film "Der Baader-Meinhof-Komplex". It was controversial with audiences for showing the human side of Hitler and its portrayal of members of the Third Reich. [44] Addressing other critics like Denby, Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert said the film did not provide an adequate portrayal of Hitler's actions, because he felt no film could, and that no response would be sufficient. I'm very proud of that, because if you do a war movie, you cannot do that and build sets. The Swiss actor died at home in Zurich on Friday night, his management said. [33][29] The final North American gross was $5,509,040, while $86,671,870 was made with its foreign gross. Factory released a collector's edition Blu-ray in March 2018, with a "making-of" featurette, cast and crew interviews, and audio commentary from director Oliver Hirschbiegel. Der Film zeigt deutlich, mit welchem Größenwahn und welcher Ignoranz Hitler bis zum letzten Atemzug diktiert hat. In November 1942, at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia, Leader of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler selects Traudl Junge as his personal secretary. It was on Fest’s essay about the last days of the Third Reich that the script of Der Untergang by producer Bernd Eichinger is based. It later received a wide theatrical release in Germany under its production company Constantin Film. Hitler hopes that the 12th Army, led by Walther Wenck, will save Berlin. Der Untergang ist ein Spielfilm von Oliver Hirschbiegel aus dem Jahr 2004. [12][29] After first failing to find a distributor, the film was eventually released on September 16 in Germany by Constantin Film. [13], After completing the script for the film, Eichinger presented it to director Oliver Hirschbiegel. Hitler wird von Bruno Ganz nahezu identisch gespielt, es entsteht zu keinem Zeitpunkt der Eindruck, das die Person Hitler glorifiziert wird. [36], The review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 90% based on 140 reviews from critics, with a weighted average of 8.01/10. At the time of his death, Ganz was the holder of the Iffland-Ring, an accolade to the German-speaking actor judged "most significant and worthy". The Senate rejects arguments from Trump's defence he should not face trial as he has left office. [56][57][58][59] In addition, some users combine footage from the film with other sources, dub the German dialogue over video games and/or footage from other films and TV series, or edit images of the characters onto pre-existing or animated footage, often for greater comic effect. Shocking moments from Trump impeachment video, What the Proud Boys did before Trump's speech. The film was produced on a €13.5 million budget. Himmler leaves to negotiate terms with the Western Allies in secret. [15] Seine Alkoholsucht hatte er … The cast also stars Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler, Heino Ferch, Christian Berkel, Alexander Held, Matthias Habich, and Thomas Kretschmann. Meanwhile, Hitler's companion Eva Braun holds a party in the Reich Chancellery. [48], Hitler biographer Sir Ian Kershaw wrote in The Guardian that the film had enormous emotive power, calling it a triumph and "a marvellous historical drama". [64] Shout! Before she was cast, she had seen André Heller's documentary film Im toten Winkel which impressed her and influenced her perspective on Junge. Bruno Ganz (* 22.März 1941 in Zürich; † 16. In 2008 he had a role in The Baader Meinhof Complex and his last role was in Lars von Trier's 2018 film The House that Jack Built. Bad people do not walk around with claws like vicious monsters, even though it might be comforting to think so. You feel the cardboard. [18][19], Principal photography lasted 12 weeks in the period from September to November 2003, under the working title Sunset. [16] Eichinger replied to the response from the film by stating that the "terrifying thing" about Hitler was that he was human and "not an elephant or a monster from Mars". [4][40], — Hirschbiegel in 2015, on the criticism surrounding the portrayal of Hitler, Downfall was the subject of dispute by critics and audiences in Germany before and after its release, with many concerned regarding Hitler's portrayal in the film as a human being with emotions in spite of his actions and ideologies. Der Untergang schildert auf fesselnde Weise die Schlussphase des 2. [34] It won the 2005 BBC Four World Cinema competition. Hitler, however, does not punish Speer, who decides to leave Berlin. Der Film zeigt deutlich, mit welchem Größenwahn und welcher Ignoranz Hitler bis zum letzten Atemzug diktiert hat. A New York Times reviewer called Ganz's performance "intriguing" and "creepily charismatic". [8][30] It premiered in the U.S. in Manhattan on February 18, 2005, under Newmarket Films. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Above ground, Hitler awards Peter his medal, hailing Peter as braver than his generals. At dinner, Hitler learns of Himmler's secret negotiations and orders his execution. Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel. He also starred in noir film The American Friend (1977) and science fiction movie The Boys from Brazil (1978), which starred Sir Laurence Olivier. Der Untergang ist ein Politdrama von Oliver Hirschbiegel mit Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara und Ulrich Noethen.. In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job -- secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. [31] On its broadcast in the UK, Channel 4 marketed it with the strapline: "It's a happy ending. "[37] On Metacritic, the film was awarded the "Must-See" badge, holding a weighted average of 82 out of 100 based on 35 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [9][10] When writing the screenplay, he used the books Inside the Third Reich (1969), by Albert Speer,[11] one of the highest-ranking Nazi officials to survive both the war and the Nuremberg trials; Hitler's Last Days: An Eye-Witness Account (1973), by Gerhard Boldt;[12] Das Notlazarett unter der Reichskanzlei: Ein Arzt erlebt Hitlers Ende in Berlin (1995) by Ernst-Günther Schenck; and Soldat: Reflections of a German Soldier, 1936–1949 (1992) by Siegfried Knappe as references. [65], 2004 German-language historical war drama film. 150 Minuten. At a meeting in the Führerbunker, Hitler forbids the overwhelmed 9th Army to retreat, instead ordering SS commander Felix Steiner's units to mount a counter-attack. Refusing surrender, Hitler plans his death. Bruno Ganz (22 March 1941 – 15/16 February 2019) was a Swiss actor, known for his roles as Damiel in Wings of Desire and Adolf Hitler in Downfall (Der Untergang). [16] Many of the people in the film, including Traudl Junge, are shown to be enthusiastic in interacting with Hitler instead of feeling threatened or anxious by his presence and authority. The film grossed over $92 million and received favourable reviews from critics, particularly for Ganz's performance as Adolf Hitler and Eichinger's screenplay. Bruno Ganz spielte darin Adolf Hitler. You feel that it's all made to entertain, and it takes away from that horror that war basically means. Weidling comes to the Führerbunker to clear himself of his charges. Im Film werden die letzten Tage im Führer-Bunker geschildert. He is internationally renowned for portraying Adolf Hitler in the Academy Award-nominated film Downfall (2004). [47] German author Jens Jessen said that the film "could have been stupider" and called it a "chamber play that could not be staged undramatically". [27], Downfall premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 14, 2004. [30] Wim Wenders, in a review for the German newspaper Die Zeit, said the film was absent of a strong point of view for Hitler which made him harmless, and compared Downfall to Resident Evil: Apocalypse, stating that in Resident Evil the viewer would know which character was evil. [61], The film was released on DVD in 2005 by Columbia-TriStar Home Entertainment (now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment). [63] This prompted more posting of parody videos of Hitler complaining that the parodies were being taken down, and a resurgence of the videos on the site. Er spielte Hitler im "Untergang" - und nun Horst Herold, den obersten Terroristenjäger des Deutschen Herbstes. The characters also gain several traits about their personalities based on their appearances in the film (such as Fegelein being a notorious prankster, Jodl objecting to Hitler's plans, and Krebs having an unhealthy obsession with map-pointing and fish). [23][24], During production, Hirschbiegel believed that Hitler would often charm people using his personality, only to manipulate and betray them. Der Untergang. Downfall (German: Der Untergang) is a 2004 German-language historical war drama film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel from a screenplay by its producer, Bernd Eichinger. Der Untergang › Customer reviews ... Bruno Ganz' portrayal of Hitler is chilling - not a parody of Hitler - rather a multi-dimensional character who is believable for the first time since anyone ever attempted this difficult role. Berlin, April 1945. Yana Bezhanskay, director of Globus Film, Constantin's Russian partner, raised her voice to Russian journalists and said: "This is an antifascist film and nowhere in it do you see Hitler praised. Video, What the Proud Boys did before Trump's speech, Europe's oldest person survives Covid aged 116, Court tells Holocaust historians to apologise, Japanese submarine crew phone for help after crash, Five held for death threats against French teen, Bitcoin: From buying a Bentley to losing it all, A behind-the-scenes peek into Trump diplomacy, Woman 'shot' at Myanmar protest fights for life, Covid lab leak in China 'extremely unlikely' - WHO, How the BBC told the world Hitler was dead, Ganz told The Guardian newspaper that he spent four months preparing. Later, Himmler's adjutant Hermann Fegelein also attempts to persuade Hitler to flee, but Hitler insists that he will win or die in Berlin. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys Black History Month STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events On the battlefield, General Helmuth Weidling is informed he will be executed for allegedly ordering a retreat. Peter's unit is defeated and he runs back to his parents. Hitler imagines more ways for Germany to turn the tide. The Soviets continue their advance, Berlin's supplies run low, and German morale plummets. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Downfall was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 77th Academy Awards. To lighten the mood, Lara's colleagues engaged in activities such as football, while Ganz tried to keep a happy mood by retiring during shooting breaks.[19].