One of the best movies ever about a totalitarian state

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2007)

Usually when watching a movie, I can find one or more things that I don't like. In this case I must admit that I didn't find a single detail that I disliked. Everything just worked, from the psychological play between the characters, to the very well written plot, and the way the political issues were handled.
Most movies about totalitarian states have one or more heroes fighting against the system, in most cases losing in the end, but occasionally winning. The main characters of this movie are much more complex than that. Ulrich Mühe, who plays a Stasi agent, does a very good job at showing how a character, who might be a one-dimensional villain in other movies, thinks and feels. But the whole cast is excellent. And there are so many fine little details, like the use of the word publikum (audience) and the red ink-spot.