The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) (2006)

Drama, Thriller

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Writer: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur

"A thinking man's thriller of Cold War Germany."

One of the most widely seen German films of this century, winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, sealed its remarkable success worldwide.

Set in 1984 East Berlin, Das Leben der Anderen follows Ulrich Mühe, a Stasi (the East German secret police) agent in charge of monitoring the citizens of East Germany. While initially a steadfast supporter of the regime he spies for, once he is assigned with the surlveillance of a pro-Socialist playwright and his actress girlfriend, he discovers something that's about to dramatically change their lives, and gradually his too.

Marking the feature debut of director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, it's one of those movies you won't forget easily after you see it, a touching and emotionally-involving story about loneliness and redemption, a powerfully quiet film that everyone who has any kind of feelings should watch.

Plot summary from IMDb: Gerd Wiesler is an officer with the Stasi, the East German secret police. The film begins in 1984 when Wiesler attends a play written by Georg Dreyman, who is considered by many to be the ultimate example of the loyal citizen. Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems and believes surveillance is called for. The Minister of Culture agrees but only later does Wiesler learn that the Minister sees Dreyman as a rival and lusts after his partner Christa-Maria. The more time he spends listening in on them, the more he comes to care about them. The once rigid Stasi officer begins to intervene in their lives, in a positive way, protecting them whenever possible. Eventually, Wiesler activities catch up to him and while there is no proof of wrongdoing, he finds himself in menial jobs - until the unbelievable happens.

Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 79 wins & 27 nominations.
Runtime: 137 min
R