Reviews
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Writer: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Producers: Max Wiedemann, Quirin Berg
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Hans-Uwe Bauer
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 137 min
read our spoiler disclaimer
reviewed by Misael Soto
Regardless of the fact that it received the Oscar for Best Foreign Film instead of the slightly more deserving Pan's Labyrinth, The Lives of Others is nearly as good and certainly deserving of the wide attention it will now receive (it’s definitely a much better film than last year's winner, the slightly above average Tsotsi). Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck's first feature film, The Lives of Others delves into many captivating topics and genres ranging from thrilling government espionage and an ever evolving personal ethics and morals tale, to an exploration of the idea of the prostitution of art under a controlling government and the effect this has on the artist as well as the transformative ability of the arts in general and it’s role as the spark of change in an ever changing political world. How far will a writer, an actor, or a director go for his work? The film also delves into the greater picture: how far will someone, anyone go to do what is inherently right?
While slightly manipulative and sentimental in the vein of Spielberg's Schindler's List or his more recent Munich (a film this reminded me very much of), it's hard to fault such a poignant, enrapturing film. Taking place in East Germany during the years before 1989, The Lives of Others is about one man, a state surveillance expert, who slowly discovers within that he's on the wrong side politically and morally. This loyal employee of the state, Hauptmann G. Wiesler, is put in charge of surveillance of playwright Georg Dreyman and his longtime girlfriend Christa-Maria Sieland as well as Dreyman’s apartment where many of the events of the film take place after the Minister of Culture of East Germany becomes interested in Christa. Wiesler finds the life of the couple fascinating and, ghrough the transformative power of the arts amongst other things, his cold and hardened heart is slowly warmed. A particular scene of sudden emotional power and clarity hitting the audience when Wiesler hears a particular piece of music played by Dreyman on his piano, it’s unadulterated moments like this that are too few and far between in cinema today.
The film pays homage to Coppola's 1974 surveillance filled The Conversation, at times even referring directly to the director’s little known masterpiece via its camera angles. The two films share many similarities including a lead character surveillance expert who goes through sudden transformative events; Ulrich Mühe giving Gene Hackman a run for his money, generating one of the best performances I've seen all year, his Wiesler right up there with such nuanced characters as Gosling’s Dan Dunne (Half Nelson) and DiCaprio’s Danny Archer (Blood Diamond).
The film's main character, while given a name is otherwise known and remembered as HGW XX/7. What he does for others, selflessly and without remorse is what defines him. His name is not important and will most likely be forgotten rather quickly after he's gone. Through the course of the film he becomes what in Yiddish would be called a mensch, someone so selfless and giving that they are rarely seen or heard of, never in want of any recognition of any kind. The transformation is one of subtle brilliance sneaking up on you to the point where it might seem false or contrived but in retrospect make perfect sense, exceeding such a wide range of emotions from the audience. This is of course no doubt due to the airtight screenplay, never wasting a second of celluloid or a single line of dialogue, as well as Ulrich Mühe's astonishing and subtle performance.
The film's final frames are such severely heartbreaking scenes of pure and bittersweet joy; its final freeze frame shot reminded me of Truffaut’s ending shot from his respective debut film The 400 Blows. The two films, in their final seconds, share a very similar closing moment filled with both triumph and tragedy; in The Lives of Others, providing a deeply affecting moment I won’t soon forget.
Links:
IMDb.com - full cast and crew
Official Site
FLIXSTER PROFILE for The Lives of Others
Next entry: Apocalypto Previous entry: Reign Over Me
-
moviepatron.com is very the most interesting. I liked your blog a lot. Thank you.
payday loans toronto on 06/28 at 06:50 AM -
moviepatron.com is great! Instant Payday Loans Quick Finances to Resolve Emergencies Now getting hold of the funds in an instant does not seem to be feasible until and unless you seek the assistance of instant payday loans
toronto payday loans on 07/11 at 04:27 AM -
moviepatron.com is great! I loved reading it. Thank you for all your work.
mr payday review on 08/18 at 06:09 PM -
Your blog website is very useful. Thank you truly for presenting plenty of very important related information. I most certainly will bookmark your web site and will be without doubt returning. Again, I appreciate your entire work moreover sharing a lot of effective material to the many people.
payday loan canada on 08/24 at 04:56 AM -
odzeweztrbaksfubuzljpvbswmndvqhrorq
loans bc on 09/01 at 05:51 PM -
A particularly nice niche blog, and a really good design there sparks Simplicity yet complex algorithm of the internet. Thank You. peafbejqlkxypobazrnycsaflbebnihmknf
Mr. Payday Easy Loans Inc. on 09/07 at 07:57 PM -
Greetings everyone, This webpage is excellent and so is how the matter was expanded. I like some of the comments as well although I would prefer we all keep it on topic in order add value to the subject. It will be
online payday loans on 09/21 at 10:22 AM -
This website is awesome. I constantly come across something new & different right here. Thank you for that data.
payday loans in canada on 09/21 at 10:08 PM -
Fantastic read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! weittviwetg
faxless payday loans on 09/22 at 09:11 PM -
hi all
http://www.tor.com/community/users/rhubusunlas1987
http://www.tor.com/community/users/molemencia1987
http://www.tor.com/community/users/worlikoobitt1976
http://www.tor.com/community/users/quebolnase1977
http://www.tor.com/community/users/qinnerafa1979Foobiaovereic on 09/23 at 05:08 AM -
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
loans no fax on 09/25 at 09:33 PM -
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives in-depth information. Thanks for this nice article.
loans canada on 09/26 at 07:17 AM -
The post is really the best on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates. Just saying thanks will not just be enough, for the exceptional lucidity in your writing. I will at once grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. De delightful work and much success in your business dealings!
loan for bad credit on 09/26 at 07:54 PM -
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
bad credit loans on 09/27 at 10:18 AM -
Usually I do not write on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really convinced me to do so! Congratulations, quite nice post.
loan in british columbia on 09/27 at 08:40 PM -
Thanks for making such a killer blog. I come on here all the time and am floored with the fresh information here.
loans ontario on 09/28 at 10:29 AM -
Do you have any more info on this?
bad credit loans on 09/28 at 09:23 PM -
Thanks for such a great submit and the review, I’m totally impressed! Maintain stuff like this coming.
loans bc canada on 09/29 at 09:44 PM -
A really nice niche blog, and a high-quality design there sparks Simplicity yet complex algorithm of the net. Thank You.
canadian loans on 09/30 at 11:59 PM -
The publish is really the best on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates. Just saying thanks will not just be enough, for the exceptional lucidity in your writing. I will at once grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. De delightful work and much success in your business dealings!
loss weight on 10/02 at 09:07 AM -
Easily, the post is really the greatest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the amazing lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Solid work and much success in your business enterprise!
personal credit loans on 10/03 at 10:23 AM -
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my webpage some thing like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
loans in canada with bad credit on 10/04 at 12:16 AM -
Greetings everyone, This webpage is terrific and so is how the matter was expanded. I like some of the comments too although I would prefer we all keep it on topic in order add value to the subject.
payday loan online on 10/04 at 07:16 AM -
Superb concepts on this site. It’s rare these days to find websites with data you are seeking. I am happy I chanced on this webpage. I will certainly bookmark it or even register for your rss feeds simply to be updated on your new posts. Keep up the nice job and I’m sure some other folks researching valued information will actually stop by and benefit from your site for resources.
bad credit canada on 10/06 at 12:06 AM -
Easily, the publish is really the greatest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the brilliant lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Solid work and much success in your business enterprise!
payday loan online on 10/12 at 07:20 PM