Carol and I just watched Der Untergang [German site] (The Downfall [English site]). It was nominated for a best foreign language film Oscar this year. It didn't win. However, we were pretty much blown away.

The story was told pretty much from the perspective of Hitler's personal secretary, Traudl Junge, who worked closely with Hitler from 1942 until his suicide in the bunker beneath Berlin. The film chornicles the dictator and his Reich's collapse from the inside. We've seen English language portrayals of the final days of this monster and his ideology, one that stands out in my mind is The Bunker, the 1981 TV movie starring Anthony Hopkins. Seeing the tale told in the German language (with English subtitles) by Germans was a moving and disturbing experience. This movie is worth seeing for a variety of levels not the least of which is the fact that we need to remember what happened, lest we be condemned to repeat these same horrific mistakes.

Thanks to the Bosnian (aka Denis) for recommending this film. It was truly worth the wait.