After watching “The Lives of Others” I couldn’t help but be reminded that a “thriller” does not need to have gunfights or car chases to bring you to the edge of your seat. This is definitely a must-see movie, and the guys at the Oscars agree. This movie won Best Foreign Language Film.
The story revolves around three people – Gerd Wiesler, a straight-arrow but cold and ruthless member of the Stasi, East Berlin’s secret police, Georg Dreyman - a famous playwright, and his girlfriend Christa-Maria Sieland – a famous stage actress.
The movie is set in East Berlin in the 80’s. The Minister of Culture has become obsessed with the beautiful actress Christa, and he has given Gerd Wiesler the task of conducting 24-hour surveillance on Georg. His objective is to find anything illegal that Georg might be doing (even though his record had been spotless so far), so that he can get Georg out of the way and have Christa for himself. The task was simple enough – stay in the sidelines. Never interfering, only watching and listening.
The best part of the movie for me was the incomparable Ulrich Muhe, who played Wiesler. His transformation as a character was unmistakable. As his involvement in the lives of Georg and Christa deepen, so did his emotion. As he witnessed their lives in his surveillance room, he realized the bitter truth of his lonely, loveless life in contrast to the richness of theirs, in their relationship with each other and the friends that they have. He turns from cold calculation, to sorrow, anger, fear, (even mischief) and eventually deep concern.He makes a choice to step over the line and involve himself, and by his actions he creates a chain of events that will irrevocably change their lives.
Definitely 5/5 stars.
(in German, with subtitles)
