The Lives Of Others [2007] - DVD (Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Hans Bauer, Ulrich Muehe - Dir: Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck)

In the former East Germany, no-one was above suspicion. Like George Orwell's vision of the future come to life, art and people and relationships were monitored obsessively; The Lives Of Others captures not only the paranoia and danger inherent in such a world, but also expresses hope that even in the most desperate situations, people can make a difference.

The story of The Lives Of Others unfolds mostly through the eyes of a secret service agent who's been given the task of spying on an artistic couple who've attracted the attention of the Minister of Culture. Little by little, he's drawn into their lives even as we're drawn into his; and as he loses his faith in the government, he must decide whether or not to try to hide the transgressions of those he's watching. As the physical danger and emotional cost mounts, it's impossible not to become utterly engrossed; intelligent and well-written, The Lives Of Others is also deeply moving.

It's rare to find a film that really deserves its rave reviews, and considering The Lives Of Others won a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, it's got a lot to live up to. Happily, it's more than just up to scratch--it's absolutely brilliant. --Sarah Dobbs

Customer Reviews of The Lives Of Others [2007]

Simon Hall
Leeds, UK
4th January 2009

The most important question for humanity...
...is surely, if there is no God, can people do good for any other reason? Or are we destined to sink into self-centred anarchy or subservience to the system?

While the TV News encourages us to answer negatively, this beautiful film offers us the tiniest sliver of hope.

It doesn't spoil the plot to say that the film portrays how a faithful servant of the East German Communist 'machine' is opened up to beauty, art and love, and the possibility that helping others to his own detriment may be the most human thing he can ever do.

That the film's story echoes in the real life of its star only adds to the depths of his portrayal of a man choosing to be free to do good.

It is hard in these days of suicide bombers and teenage killers to be hopeful for the future, but this film was more inspiring to me than anything else for many years.

Clive 23
Cardiff S Wales
31st December 2008

Fantastic Film
A wonderful film well directed,the acting was superb,and left you thinking at the end.Be sure to see all the extras on this DVD as a lot is explained by the cast.

tee
Scotland UK
22nd December 2008

See it
This is a stunning film and is a vivid example of how absolute power can be abused absolutely. The acting is first class- I found the menacing Minister particularly chilling. One couldn't help but feel sorry for the citizens of the DDR having the Stasi follow up on the Gestapo after the War. This film goes a long way to explaining the anti- authoritarian psyche of modern Germany and it's reluctance to being organised and marshalled in to military action even against it's enemies.We in Britain and America should not be complacent- we have a few characters ourselves who would like to influence affairs in a not dissimilar manner. In summary this film has deservedly won international acclaim.See it!

Paul Heath
Northampton UK
16th December 2008

Today we're past our best.
Undoubtedly one of the finest films of recent years, a superbly reflective and atmospheric analysis of the Lost World of the DDR.
The film's motifs should not be transferred to other east european communist societies ,as the poignancy is heightened by the knowledge that not everything in the DDR was bad.
The acting is outstanding,particularly the disenchanted and disillusioned Ulrich Muehe,and the pace of the film augments the sense of regret which permeates the story.
Although many reviews regard the film as evidence of the failure of a misguided social and political experiment,I think it should be seen as a sad acknowledgement of how human weaknesses destroy the hopes of a society.
The central problem is not that the Minister is a Communist,but that he is corrupt and abuses the power given to him.
This is a phenomenon well known to citizens of western countries ,and Muehe's character is acting as we all should,against the destruction of moral values which politicians bring on all of us.

why read,watch or listen to normal stuff?
WALES--UK
3rd November 2008

what a directoral debut! how precious, but tenuous, our freedom is
an authentic portrayal of the stasi spy system in Eastern Germany which prevailed before the collapse of the Berlin wall and which conscripted millions of its citizens to spy on each other and everyone else.
an intimate poignant representation via the its central characters, the film needs to be slow in order to capture the oppressive mood, and what developes subsequently..... but it never feels laboured .
remember that it is the director's first film which makes it even more significant.