Hirschbiegel confronts the nemesis of every German, the silent veto that hovers over minds, the unmentionable.

In approaching Hitler, as a German, he frames him within the searing epilogue of his political trajectory.

The Führer's last ten days become a metaphor for failure but also for new spiritual strength in surrender.

In April 1945, Berlin is under siege by the Russians and the Allies.

Hitler, holed up in his Bunker beneath the Reichstag, issues martial orders to his generals, commanding them to resist until every single man fit to fight is dead.

Against this backdrop, the doubts and hesitations of the last men loyal to Hitler: Goebbels and Himmler.

A work of extraordinary evocative power, featuring a magnificent Bruno Ganz, a sublime interpreter of a dying European acting school.

The scene where Hitler analyzes the military situation with his officers is memorable.

Upon learning that even the last army was unable to launch a counter-attack because it was by then decimated and in disarray, Hitler dismissed all the officers, then lashed out at those remaining with unprecedented fury, accusing of cowardice the very men who, outside those walls, were shedding their blood for him, a trembling mask of a man now gripped by paranoia.

Outside the room, the officers and women present listened in terror to Hitler's words, while the chilling spectre of defeat flew from eye to eye.