The Lives of Others

‘The Lives of Others’ (Das Leben der Anderen) is a film that from the very beginning promises a powerful description, and betters itself with the progress. I wasn’t sure about this movie and picked it due to my previous experience of ‘Der Untergang’. I think my next German film will also be good. Credit should also go in equal measure to the direction and superb role play by the actors.

The film, in the year 1984, starts with a typical Stasi operation of East Germany but soon transforms from a thriller to a powerful drama. The next two hours are filled with tryst of the characters with their emotions. There is not one but several thread of emotions interlaced to give a fulfilling two hours and few crystallized moments that lingers even after the movie ends. In this movie one can also get a glimpse of difficult life in those communist days and how far were they from the ideals they wanted to propagate.

In between the layers of - an artist’s wish for creativity, a poet’s wish for free expression, ideals abased to servility - lies the central theme of man and the ultimate triumph of his conscience over his training. A Stasi star captain, who loved socialism ideals of GDR, finds the calling of his conscience while listening to wire taps. All the experience, all the training crumbles when conscience decides the action. The Stasi captain who was to monitor a poet and actress couple will end up protecting them. In the process he pays for it with his own career but the gratitude he receives at the end of the movie more than makes up for all his trouble.

Life is too complicated to be lived by thumb rules or to be described in black & white.

The movie is directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and the Stasi captain Wiesler is played by Ulrich Mühe. Further details and story could be found on the linked IMDB site