The Lives of Others

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Scotty M Review of The Lives of Others The Lives of Others, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, provides valuable insight into what life was like in East Berlin during the 1980s, while also being a wildly entertaining and well-made film. The plot follows Gerd Wiesler, a Stasi teacher and officer. The Stasi were the police force responsible for enforcing the harsh rules of East Germany. Wiesler was assigned to spy on a writer by the name of Georg Dreyman, who was suspected by the government to have values that aligned more with those of West Germany. Throughout his surveillance, Wiesler’s values and morals are challenged, leading him to question his allegiance to the Stasi. The film was beautifully put together by von Donnersmarck. Much of the appeal of the film was its complex characters, whose varying storylines were woven together to create a beautiful picture together. Our knowledge of the actions of many different characters in the film led to a very suspenseful viewing experience, since much of the plot was built around particular characters not knowing certain information about different characters. As a viewer, it was nerve-wracking to see different characters coming so close finding out details that would have greatly affected the trajectory of the movie. This inclined viewers to keep their full attention on the film, as it constantly felt as though the protagonists were seconds away from meeting their demise. In addition to the plot, the setting of East Berlin was beautifully replicated by the creators. One key aspect of the film was the constant gloomy lighting. There were practically zero moments in the film with any sort of bright lighting. This was useful in showing the sad and oppressive mood seen in East Germany. The camerawork in the film was also expertly done. Many of the shots included close-ups of the characters and slow panning, both of which helped to build suspense. Overall, The Lives of Others was an excellent film due to both its plot and filming techniques. The film has received a lot of praise in the media, including winning an Oscar for the best foreign language film. I think that this praise was warranted. I would recommend that everyone watches this movie. It brings entertainment and insight into East Germany together perfectly. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/25/25 Full Review Kayla Jenia Courney H Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s The Lives of Others is an impactful movie that tells a story about life under East Germany’s Stasi police state in the 1980s, and the unsettling mood of the film lingers long after it’s over. Using a tightly written script, and with subtle performances, the filmmakers work to be true to the paranoia and fear that infuses everything in a controlled society, but simultaneously capture the humanity that can also be found. The movie is based on the story of Captain Gerd Wiesler, a loyal Stasi member assigned to surveil a playwright and his actress girlfriend. Initially Wiesler is aligned with the regime’s unflinching enforcement of its laws; but ultimately, when he hears (and sees) the beauty, truth, and love of the playwright and his girlfriend – who is not present in his life – he begins a slow transformation of sorts. The transformation is revealed over the course of the movie, and one of the film's most poignant elements is that, other than some dialogue, Wiesler is silent. Ulrich Mühe fantastically implies empathetic change through facial expression and relaxed muscle movements. His transformation is convincing and devastating. It subtly demonstrates how art (and empathy) can affect even the most destructive loyalties. The singular experience of ‘The Lives of Others' is that the filmmakers do not allow the characters to forget their basic humanity or reduce anyone to a mere caricature. Wiesler's victims are imperfect, and the oppressors are more than just mustache-twirling villains. This kind of layered complexity adds to the emotional authenticity of the project as a whole. A poignant stretch of action, in which Wiesler protects his target — the people he is spying on — is fraught with tension and also the weight of moral discovery — that people, even in systems that try to crush them, can choose decency. The muted colors and a more decisive pacing reflect the grey and controlled world of East Berlin. It may seem slow to some, but that pacing heightens the tension and mirrors the muted strangulation of the period. In sum, ‘The Lives of Others’ is not simply a historical drama, but a narrative of conscience, resistance, and lasting kindness. It stays with you long after the credits, insisting you ponder what it means to listen — and subsequently, to act. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/25 Full Review Daniel X Sensitive, deep, and tense ! Very important to keeo us aware of something that was happening "yesterday", and is still happening today, but in different ways ! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/25 Full Review Tilman G The Lives of Others is a visually masterfully staged work that captures the dark atmosphere of the GDR in an op- and impressive way. The craftsmanship of the film is remarkable (especially for a German film) and can compete with the best productions on an international level. Ulrich Mühe as Wiesler is absolutely outstanding. However, Wiesler's character development, especially with regard to his transformation, is not entirely convincing at times and is difficult to understand. Nevertheless, the film remains a touching, multi-layered drama about surveillance, morality and resistance to a totalitarian regime. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/25 Full Review Liam D An very tense drama that has an amazing performance and taut direction Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Pip S The best German film I have personally seen. One of the best movies I've seen. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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