Germans Drawn to Hitler Again

[Zebra 3]

(Reuters/Hollywood Reporter )"Downfall," a controversial depiction of Adolf Hitler's final days, has won the Bavarian Film Prize's audience award, one of Germany's top film honors, organizer Bayerische Fernsehen said Wednesday.

The epic drama has been a major box office success in Germany, taking in about EUR30 million ($39.8 million), but many critics have condemned "Downfall" for giving the Nazi leader a too-human face.

The audience award was chosen by viewers of Bayerische film magazine Kino Kino, listeners of radio station Bayern 3 and readers of regional newspaper the Abendzeitung.

The film's director, Oliver Hirschbiegel, will receive the award Jan. 14 at a gala ceremony in Munich, coincidentally the birth place of the Nazi Party.

"Downfall" is Germany's official submission for foreign-language Oscar consideration. Newmarket is releasing the film in the United States, with a Feb. 18 bow in New York and Feb. 25 in Los Angeles.