Peppering nearly everyone's best films of 2005 (at least where release dates permit) Downfall is a staggering piece of work which deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. Set in 1945, when the walls of Berlin are closing in around Adolf Hitler (a stunning performance by Bruno Ganz), Downfall juxtaposes the dictator's fraught last hours underground with civilian turmoil above. It's amazing German cinema took so long to return to its country's darkest hour, and in this no-holds-barred approach it strikes its audience dumb. I can't recommend this highly enough.