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'Downfall' movie: Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler 'Downfall' movie: Overlong and overwrought World War II drama lifted by several memorable performances Oliver Hirschbiegel's German box office hit Downfall / Der Untergang is a generally engrossing psychological-historical drama whose emotional charge is diluted by excessive length, an overabundance of characters, and a tendency to emphasize the more obvious aspects of the narrative. Several key performances – including Bruno Ganz's now iconic Adolf Hitler – help to lift Downfall above the level of myriad other World War II movies. Nazi Germany literally goes under In Downfall, which by the end of 2004 had been seen by more than 4.5 million German moviegoers, Nazi Germany is about to lose the war. In his underground bunker, Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) grows increasingly out of touch with reality as he sees his dream of Deutschland über alles go kaput. Some of those under his command are equally incapable of thinking coherently.

The Berlin International Film Festival is celebrating its opening today, on February 7, 2013 at 7.30 pm. After a few words of greeting from Minister of State for Cultural and Media Affairs Bernd Neumann and Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit, the Festival will be officially opened by Jury President Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong, China) and Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. The International Jury – whose other members are Susanne Bier (Denmark), Andreas Dresen (Germany), Ellen Kuras (USA), Shirin Neshat (Iran), Tim Robbins (USA) and Athina Rachel Tsangari (Greece) – will also be introduced during the gala. Anke Engelke will again host the evening. This year’s music will be provided by Ulrich Tukur & Die Rhythmus Boys. 3sat will be broadcasting the opening live. Ziyi Zhang in Yi dai zong shi (The Grandmaster) by Wong Kar Wai Following the gala, Wong Kar Wai’s epic martial-arts drama The Grandmaster will have its international premiere. The director and his leading actors,...

COLOGNE, Germany -- James Brolin, Ben Cross and "Lost" star Ian Somerhalder are among the cast of U.S. and European talent that have signed on for the two-part event telefilm "Lost City Raiders" from Munich-based production house Tandem Communications.

The adventure drama, co-developed by Tandem and the Sci Fi Channel, revolves around two brothers who go out to salvage the past and end up in a fight to save the future. The production also features Jamie Thomas King ("The Tudors"), French actress Elodie Frenck and German stars Bettina Zimmerman and Michael Mendl.

Jean de Segonzac ("Law & Order") will direct the $6.4 million telefilm, which is set for delivery in October. Commercial network ProSieben will air the mini in Germany. Tandem will handle worldwide distribution.

Formed in 1999 by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin, Tandem has carved out a successful niche in international event miniseries, developing and financing such productions as "Dune" (2000) and "The Ring of the Nibelungs" (2004).

The company also is a major distributor of high-end TV product, handling titles including the Emmy-nominated fantasy "Dragon's World", CIA drama "The Company" (a Golden Globe nominee) and Lifetime Television's Nora Roberts telefilm adaptations.