Downfall (2004)

BLUE-RAY CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  156 Minutes

Rated: R 

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Starring: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Kohler, Heino Ferch, Christian Berkel

IMDB Rank: 8.2/10

Part 1 Time:  95 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  61 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Hitler (Bruno Ganz) speaks with General Mohnke (Oleg Piminov) about how long the German army can hold out defending Berlin against the Russians.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “It wasn’t just for Germany,” Hitler finishes his conversation with General Mohnke in Hitler’s bunker bedroom.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “A message from Keitel.” General brings message into the German bunker war room.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal/Somewhat, it is only a matter of time before the German Nazi Reich is defeated.

Which part is better? Due to the events portrayed in part two of the film, including the deaths of many infamous Nazi leaders and the fall of Berlin, part two supersedes the first part of the film.

Academy Awards: Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (Nominated)