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The Downfall of a Dictator: Unpacking the 2004 Film "Downfall"

The Plot

Impact and Legacy

This is the story of the downfall of 2004.

While some argued the parodies were disrespectful to the victims of the Holocaust, others (including director Oliver Hirschbiegel) saw the humor in it. Hirschbiegel famously stated that the meme proved the power of the performance, noting that if the actor wasn't so good, the scene wouldn't work as a template for everything from airline mishaps to software glitches.