Downfall Film Essays Examples

Downfall is a film that was produced in 2004. It can be categorized in the genre of war films. The director of the film is known as Oliver Hirschbiegei. The movie is based on a story of the last ten days of the reign of Hitler in Nazi Germany in the year 1945. The film is written by Bernd Eichinger and forms its basis and story line from historians of the time who include Joachim Fest, memoirs of Traudi Jungle amongst many other authors. What forms the basis of the movie is that all these authors who gave the writer an insight of the story line were living in the times of the fall of reign of Hitler.
The film starts with the real-life Traudi Jungle conveying shame and remorse for having held Hitler in High regard in the youth years. She recounts how back in the day a group of secretaries from German were taken to the compound of Adolf Hitler. The story reverts back to 1945 20th of April when it was the 56th birthday of Adolf Hitler. In this very time, the Battle of Berlin was underway. It is a loud blast that awakens the Traudi and her colleague. After the blast, they meet up with Hitler who has also been awakened by the blast and is now demanding answers on what caused the explosion. The generals of Hitler alert him that the blast is 12.5 kilometers away from Berlin. As the day carries on and the celebration of the birthday continues, Herman pleads with Hitler to leave the city. Hitler declines and says that he would rather face his downfall or defeat them in Berlin.
However, Hermann moves to negotiate for surrender terms. The film then shifts to other parts of the city where youths allied to Hitler are preparing to create defense. The film precedes goes on day after day giving details on the generals and their assistants. Berlin defenses go on disintegrating. He is later in a meeting with the generals and he admits that the war is lost. He is stubborn and instead insists that he will not leave Berlin and will commit suicide. The movie shows generals gunning down civilians. In the mean time, Hitler, Traudi and Gerda discuss means of committing suicide as other secretaries’ type goodbye letters. Hitler dictates his last will and testament to Traudi and marries Eva. Doctors are paraded to explain on the best way to commit suicide and Hitler takes his last meal. He then retires to bed with his wife where they both commit suicide. Their bodies are burnt with petrol and they are given a nazi salute. Many other persons living with Hitler commit suicide.
Magda poisons her children and she and her husband shoot themselves. Traudi also prepares to leave and peter comes along the way to help her as they maneuver between the masses. They get a bicycle in a ruined bridge where they pedal away out of Berlin. The fate of other people is told in the final segment where the real life Traudi appears before credits.
The film is informative in a number of ways. The film teaches us not to give up in times of hardships as Hitler and the colleagues’ deed. It is also informative on the impacts on revolution or violence as there are so many deaths in Berlin at the time. Traudi is a trusted aide of Hitler as she is the one who writes the will and last wishes of Hitler.