A touching movie that shows the GDR's ruthlessness

Rating: 9/10 (7 August 2008)

The Lives of Others is a powerful film which tells the memorable story of characters living in East Berlin during the oppressive regime of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The journey begins in 1984 when the GDR maintained a tight grip on its citizen in Berlin, and ultimately the film finishes in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapses. Critically acclaimed director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck creates a story so dramatic viewers are literally glued to the screen. Not only does Donnersmack create a masterpiece through the dramatic conflicts of his character but he also paints an eye opening portrayal of the cruelty and intrusiveness the GDR inflicted on its citizens. The Lives of Others revolves around the disillusionment of Stasi Captian Gerd Wiesler, a committed and strict socialist, who as the story progresses becomes more and more confused about his ideology. Wiesler's personal beliefs begin to unravel when he accepts the mission of spying on Berlin playwright Georg Dreyman who is believed to have pro-western sympathies. Dreyman lives with his beautiful girlfriend, the successful German actress Christa-Maria Sieland. As Wiesler begins to observe the daily interactions of the loving couple, he starts to lose sight of his mission and becomes emotionally attached. His admiration for Dreyman and Christa-Maria is catalyzed even further as Wiesler discovers that the motivation for spying on Dreyman has not as much to do with any legitimate suspicion of treachery but rather the personal desires of a high level central committee member in the GDR. It is soon revealed that a vile and corrupt official named Hampf contains a lustful desire for Christa-Maria and the only way he believes he can have her is to get rid of Dreyman. Inspired by the power of their romance, Wiesler ultimately risks everything to protect the couple. He lies to his Stasi coworkers and intervenes in their affairs to ensure that they will never find any evidence with which they could charge Dreyman. Dreyman and Christa-Maria are totally unaware all the while that for months they have secretly been receiving help from Wiesler, their watchful guardian. After intense escalation, the hopes and happiness of Dreyman and Christa-Maria, come crashing down on them as Wiesler's deception catches up to him and he is no longer able to protect the couple. The Lives of Others is a powerful movie that encapsulates philosophical, cultural, and political debate. The film uses the emotional transformation of Wiesler and the dramatic collapse of Dreyman and Christa-Maria's love as vehicles to reveal the oppressive and inhumane nature of the GDR. The film is also a great tool for any interested in German and Russian history, specifically the Cold War era. It perfectly captures the lack of privacy citizens had from their government during this time in Germany, and also how little artistic freedom was allowed. The movie is shrouded in an undertone of constant suspicion, and even as a viewer I couldn't help but look over my shoulder every now and then to be sure I wasn't being watched by a Stasi agent. I would recommend this movie to anyone not only as a great dramatic achievement but also as a historical reference providing insight into daily dealings of the Communist ruled East Berlin.