- The Lives of Others - The Lives of Others DVD
Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's premier film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and for good reason. The interplay between intimate personal moments and the depersonalized aspect of those doing the surveillance is disturbing and reveals the cost of surveillance for both parties. The cast of characters is convincing with many polished performances - one can almost forget this is a film, so gripping is the drama. Noteworthy performances are given by Sebastian Koch as Georg Dreyman and Uhlrich Muhe as Hauptman Gerd Wiesler. The film won sixty-one awards and received twenty-one other nominations, an astounding series of recognitions for a debut director.
The Lives of Others is an Intimate Look at the Price Paid for Surveillance
A writer and his artist girlfriend are being scrutinized by the East German State Police, the Stasi. Considered a threat, these creative individuals are kept under close watch in order to protect the interests of the state. Artistic types are often the recipients of surveillance as they secretly work on their crafts of expression. How that scrutiny impacts not only those being watched, but also those doing the watching, is the story for the film. Being a part of someone's life, even their most intimate moments, even surreptitiously, may change another man's view of himself, of his position in society, and of the side he is on. The excellence of the actors in this film is one of its best qualities, along with a superb director, who seems to keep the pace on target without missing a beat.
Das Leben der Anderen is a Magnificent German Film
The timing in the film is done to perfection. The way the surveillance task itself changes those on both sides of the divide is a study in psychological impact. The depersonalization that is inherent in reducing human beings to a subject under a microscope is part of the film's power. When the Berlin wall falls, all the pieces on the chess board have to change. And in so doing, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's film orchestrates all the movement to near perfection, giving the film an ending that will stay with the viewer for a long, long time. If you want to witness a piece of life in the era of the Berlin Wall or yearn for a psychological study, this is the film for you.
- 138 minutes
- Movie Site
- Sony Classics
- Academy Award winner, Best Foreign Language Film
- Best Foreign Film, L.A. Film Critics Association
- Best Picture, Best Screenwriter, Best Actor, European Film Awards
Barbara DeGrande - Barbara DeGrande is a writer, film critic, and blogger, with years of experience as a program developer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in ...
