It’s a question I’m pretty sure most of our readership has pondered at some point in time. Should I use history’s greatest monster to help sell my beer? Burleigh Brewing Co. said, why not? Earlier this month, the Australia brewing brand, based in the beautiful resort community of the Gold Coast, released a YouTube video promoting its new six-pack packaging using a scene from the 2004 film Downfall, which recounts the final days of Hilter’s rule over Germany.
First off: The scene above is a meme. Lots of folks (like hundreds) have already added parody subtitles to the pinnacle scene from Der Untergang, and some of them are quite funny. This one where Hitler finds out Pokemon aren’t real seems appropriate.
Burleigh Brewing reworked the subtitles to have Hitler talk about its Bighead brand, which just got new six-pack packaging that’s currently hitting shelves in Australia (Bighead being a no carb lager). In the video, Hitler has never felt so passionately about packaging in his life. Not since Pringles! The ability to hold the new six-pack better will keep his beer safe and “will help when scabs are around … beerseagulls … like Stalin!” Unfortunately, Hitler’s military strategists have already bought the old packaging, which sends Adolf into his usual meltdown.
Is it inappropriate? Maybe. This meme seemed funnier before Nazism started making this 2017 mainstream comeback, at least. But apparently the director of Downfall doesn’t have a problem with such reworkings. According to Vulture.com:
“Someone sends me the links every time there’s a new one,” says the director, on the phone from Vienna. “I think I’ve seen about 145 of them! Of course, I have to put the sound down when I watch. Many times the lines are so funny, I laugh out loud, and I’m laughing about the scene that I staged myself! You couldn’t get a better compliment as a director.” Some of Hirschbiegel’s favorites are the one where Hitler hears of Michael Jackson’s death, and one in which the Fuhrer can’t get Billy Elliot tickets.
@burleighbrewing The answer is no, every F-ing time.