A magnificent and harrowing psycho-political thriller

Rating: 10/10 (1 December 2007)

The Lives of Others (2006)
Top 2 - 2006
After watching Das Leben der Anderen, I realised that so many exceptional films must be made around the world that go unnoticed. The only reason I watched this is because it gained recognition by winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; so many films go unnoticed and it is at least good that some magnificent pictures like this gain some recognition. I believe that this film should have also been included in the 'Best Picture' category (not to go as far as suggest that this is perhaps the Best Film of the Year!)
The Lives of Others is a story about the brutal measures that the Stasi (East German Secret Policy) went to, to maintain absolute control over its population in the 80s.
Wiesler, a cold calculating interrogator, is assigned to monitor the lives of a playwright and his actress girlfriend. As he examines every detail of their lives, Wiesler realises how cold and colourless his life is and ultimately puts his life on the line to protect the couple.
This film is a credit to German film-making as well as international cinema. This is a serious, extremely well made film examining the complex and turbulent history of post World War Germany, a country that was divided in two contrasting halves.
The direction is fine, delivering each scene tightly, the acting is very good, especially from Ulrich Muhe.
A harrowing and often terrifying psychological and political thriller, which definitely ranks as one of the finest films of recent years. A fascinating study of humanity and the brutal regimes of Europe in the darkest Century in history.
10/10