Lives of Others, The
Lives of Others, The
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Synopsis

An Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Das Leben der Anderen is writer-director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's seductive and suspenseful recreation of an East Berlin under heavy government surveillance. The Stasi, a secret police and intelligence agency, is trying to create computer files on every citizen, most importantly opponents of the ruling party. It''s customary for Wiesler (Ulrich Muehe), a stoic Stasi operative, to collect information on artists, intellectuals, and, in this case, playwright Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) and his actress-girlfriend (Martina Gedeck). However, in documenting their passionate lives, Wiesler''s objectivity is irrevocably compromised. "Supremely intelligent, unfailingly honest movie" (A.O. Scott, The New York Times). Features the handsome, desaturated photography of Hagen Bogdanski. In German with English subtitles. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck---Germany---2006---137 mins.

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  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
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   | Linda#10

A truly great film. A.O. Scott's review fits it to a T. "Supremely intelligent, unfailingly honest movie" (A.O. Scott, The New York Times). Very moving.

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  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
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   | JohnH#1

Surprise, surprise: even communist apparatchiks can have consciences. The drab, obsessively suspicious East German regime we're shown in Lives of others reminded me of what someone said about the Nazi state, "The banality of evil". One question nagged me throughout. Moral considerations aside, how useful was the documentation Stasi gathered? It seemed like information overload to me. How much did it cost? Couldn't all that money and manpower have been put to better use? Hear that NSA" Very well made movie that becomes more engrossing with each moment.

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  • Currently 2/5 Stars.
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   | XXJanina#1

The narrative of the lonely Stazi agent going over to the other side was interesting. However, the story of the drug addicted woman who loves and betrays the martyred and courageous playwright is straight out of Rome Open City and somewhat simplistic (not to mention misogynist) for this day and age. Of course in in Rome Open City its the commies who see the truth....On the other hand, it wasn't all that bad. The question is, how does capitalism deal with its critical artists?

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