The Lives of Others
The Lives of Others ★★★ Das Leben der Anderen 2006 (R)
Oscarwinning drama is set in East Berlin in 1984. The population is controlled by the Stasi (the secret police) and its informers. Strict bureaucrat Wiesler (Muehe) doesn't believe that successful playwright Dreyman (Koch) is a true socialist so he wires the man's apartment and becomes intrigued with his life and lover, actress Christa-Maria (Gedeck). Wiesler's loyalty (and belief in the system) is shaken when a superior orders him to pin something on Dreyman; instead, he decides to protect him. Impressive debut for writer/director von Donnersmarck. German with subtitles. 137m/C DVD, Blu-ray Disc . GE Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Tukur, Ulrich Muehe, Sebastian Kock, Volkmar Kleinert; D: Florian Henskel von Donnersmarck; W: Florian Henskel von Donnersmarck; C: Hagen Bogdanski; M: Gabriel Yared, Stephane Moucha. Oscars ‘06: Foreign Film; British Acad. ‘07: Foreign Film.