Our foreign language department hosted an excellent German film last night. It's called Downfall, and depicts Adolf Hitler's last few days holed up in a bunker as the Russians close in on Berlin.

I am a big WWII buff and I have to say that this is absolutely one of the finest films I have ever seen on the subject. Tremendous acting, visually stunning, starkly realistic.

The most amazing thing is how detailed all the goings on are. Adolf's secretary from 1942 on provided a lot of the details, and it was further collaborated with the many other survivors from that bunker.

It is not for the weak of stomach. For example, they show in horrific detail Goebbels's wife poisoning all of her children, lest they "live in world without national socialism". Truly one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen on film.

This is a very significant film from the German perspective as well. Normally the details from the bunker are cursory as best. This film not only goes into great detail, but also shows a human side of Hitler - his frailty and weakness as well as his complete lunacy.

I highly recommend the film. It is available on DVD, with english subtitles.

 http://www.downfallthefilm.com/