Watch The Architecture of Doom

The Architecture of Doom is a 1989 documentary-style drama film that explores the ideologies and ambitions that drove Nazi Germany and its leadership towards genocide and mass destruction. The film is directed by Peter Cohen and features Rolf Arsenius as Adolf Hitler, Bruno Ganz as Narrator (voice), and Sam Gray as Ernst Rohm. The movie is based on the writings and speeches of the key figures of the Nazi regime, ranging from Hitler to Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, Rudolf Hess, and Albert Speer. Through a series of archival footage, interviews, and reenactments, the film traces the rise of the Third Reich from its early stages of myth-making and propaganda to its ultimate descent into war and destruction.

The Architecture of Doom takes its title from Hitler's obsessions with architecture and his vision of a grandiose, monumental, and orderly society. The film shows how the Nazi leaders used the power of architecture, art, and aesthetics to manipulate and control the masses. The filmmakers use the recurring motifs of architecture and film to connect the aesthetics of Nazism to its politics and ideology.

The movie begins with the rise of Hitler in the 1930s and his ascension to power as the Chancellor of Germany. The film shows how Hitler used his charisma, his speeches, and his party's propaganda machine to win the support of the German people. The film emphasizes how Hitler played to the anxieties and frustrations of the German people, who felt betrayed by the Treaty of Versailles and were suffering from economic hardship and political turmoil.

As Hitler consolidates his power, the movie focuses on the role of the SS and the Gestapo in eliminating any opposition to his regime. The film shows how the Nazis used violence, intimidation, and terror to intimidates and silence their opponents, whether they were communists, Jews, or anyone who would dare to challenge Hitler's authority. The movie features archival footage of concentration camps and the cries of children.

The Architecture of Doom also explores the Nazi's obsessive pursuit of racial purity and its consequences. The film chronicles how the Nazis implemented their plan of exterminating the Jews and other "undesirables" through mass shootings, gas chambers, and concentration camps. The movie features interviews and testimonies from Holocaust survivors and historians, who provide context and insight into the horrors of the Nazi's regime.

Throughout the movie, the filmmakers use the recurring motif of Hitler's obsession with architecture and aesthetics to connect his grandiose vision of a new Germany to the horrors of his regime. The movie explores how Hitler's love of art, music, and architecture shaped his ideology and his politics. The movie features images of Hitler's famous rallies, which used mass choreography and monumental structures to inspire awe and devotion from the German people.

The movie also explores the role of propaganda and media in the Nazi's regime. The film showcases how the Nazi's propaganda machine used radio, film, and the press to spread their ideology and to manipulate public opinion. The film features reenactments of Nazi propaganda films, which glorified the German people and demonized their enemies. The movie also explores the role of Hitler's personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, who captured some of the most iconic images of the Nazi regime.

The Architecture of Doom is a powerful and disturbing exploration of the ideology and ambitions that drove Nazi Germany towards destruction. The film is a reminder of the importance of confronting the dark and dangerous elements of human nature and ensuring that such atrocities never happen again. The film is a warning that no society is immune to the dangers of fanaticism and hate.

The Architecture of Doom is a 1989 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.