Very realistic, but a little too real (boring) for fantasy

Rating: 6/10 (31 October 2019)

An extreme tale of subterfuge in the face of an oppresive government, one man finds the courage to make the world a better place, risking everything in the process. It's hard to imagine taking such a risk knowing the government is probably tracking your every move. Muhe (Wiesler) acted very well, forced to live vicariously through the people he spies on, desperately hoping for the same kind of personal connection that they have. In a world so closely monitored, the only retaliation one can take is relatively minor, so it's never a very thrilling or dramatic film. It also doesn't manage to capture the covert back-and-forth or hidden intentions as in great spy movies such as Red Sparrow. Despite the slow pace and muted events, I won't soon forget The Lives of Others.