Movie on Hitler's last days finds a distributor in Israel

A German film showing Adolf Hitler's last days in his bunker in Berlin has found an Israeli distributor. Nurit Shani, owner of the Lev Cinema chain, decided to accept “The Downfall” after 91 per cent of a test audience approved of it being screened in Israel. The movie, which was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Foreign Film, shows Hitler descending into suicidal madness during his last 12 days in a Berlin bunker. While the film dwells on the horrors of World War II, there is scant mention of the Holocaust. In Germany, many critics were disturbed by scenes in which Hitler is shown dealing tenderly with his staff and mistress. But Shani, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, said in a statement: “I know there are still many for whom it will be difficult to see the human side of Hitler portrayed in a film, but it would have been unfair to prevent a curious and interested audience that is willing to confront the painful subject in its own way from seeing the movie.”