NEWS

​We are pleased to invite you to a screening and discussion of the Oscar-nominatedGerman film Downfall on Saturday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Armour Street Theatre.

“A provocative, thoughtful perspective on an arch-criminal guilty of heinous crime.”  (Jane Freebury, The Canberra Times—Australia)

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel  
Germany (2003, 2h36)
In German w/English subtitles

7::00 pm Saturday, March 16, at the Armour Street Theatre

Discussion of the film will be led by Dr. Scott Denham, Dana Professor of German Studies at Davidson College.

Walk-ins are welcome, $9 (NC sales tax included) at the door, cash or check (no credit cards). Walk-ins must apply for a seat in advance at [email protected]. Walk-in seats are limited by availability.

*DFC Members: Please let us know at [email protected] if you do not plan to attend this screening so we will know that your seats are available for walk-ins.

Please be reminded that members are always free to give their seats to a friend if they cannot make it to a given screening. Just email us to let us know the name of the friend(s) who will be using your seat(s).

Refreshments (red and white wine, bottled water, and snacks) will be made available by the Film Club.

Film Summary:
In 1942, young Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) lands her dream job—secretary to Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) at the peak of his power. In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Soviet Armies closing in from the west and south. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his Generals and advisers to fight to the last man. Downfallexplores these final days of the Reich, where senior German leaders (such as Himmler and Goring) began defecting from their beloved Fuhrer, in order to save their own skins, while still others (Joseph Goebbels) pledge to die with Hitler. The real-life Traudl narrates Hitler’s final days as he rages against imagined betrayers and barks orders to phantom armies. . .

21 wins, 29 nominations. Oscar-nominated Best FL Film of the Year. Multiple Best Film, Best FL Film, Best Director, and Best Actor awards, including Actor of the Year and FL Film of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards.

R.T. Tomatometer 90%, Audience Score 94%.

“May be the definitive account of Hitler’s final days and the collapse of the Third Reich” (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel)

“With a steely, unblinking resolve, Downfall stares into the abyss, but does not pretend to comprehend it.” (Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald)

“It is a stunning performance of light and shade, tracing [Hitler’s] descent from total denial to despair, disillusionment and defeat.” (James Croot, Stuff.co.nz)

“…an unflinching, hard, relentlessly honest movie that refuses to ask questions that have easy answers. It is also brilliantly acted, written, and focused…” (David Keyes, Cinemaphile.org)

Audience Reviews:
“Immersive, riveting, brilliantly acted, and tragic, Downfall is an amazing German film, depicting the last ten days of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. At 2.5 hours long, the film manages to give the viewer an insightful look at the inner workings and utter chaos of those last days [. . .]. Bruno Ganz as Hitler is simply brilliant, showing a man profoundly troubled, tragically devoted, crazed, manic, but yet not without some hint of humanity.”

“An incredibly powerful World War II epic [. . .], the story follows the events of the Battle of Berlin as the Russian Army lays siege and Hitler and the Nazi high command face inevitable defeat. The performances are also especially good; particularly Bruno Ganz, who gives an exceptionally compelling and humanizing depiction of Hitler.”

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We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.