The Lives of Others

Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets


The Lives of Others
This multi-award winning movie is set in the German Democratic Republic in 1984, and big brother was certainly watching. A government minister has his eye on an actress, and orders her boyfried to be investigated, as a way of getting rid of him. So an agent is assigned to monitor what happens in their apartment, using bugging equipment. The agent, a dedicated man, eventually finds himself becoming involved in the romantic triangle, as the conversations he hears slowly awaken him to the fact that his job had brainwashed him. At the time of writing it comes in at number 69 on the IMDB's list of 250 top movies. In German language with English subtitles.

133 minutes.
No persons under 13 (Sex, Nudity).
Drama, Romance, On the art circuit

Not currently showing on the local cinema circuit.

If only I had a video camera as well...
If only I had a video camera as well...

Credits

Cast
Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Hans-Uwe Bauer
Director
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
ScreenplayFlorian Henckel von Donnersmarck
MusicStéphane Moucha, Gabriel Yared
CinematographyHagen Bogdanski
EditingPatrica Rommel
Sound formatsDolby Digital
SoundtrackAvailable
Made in2006
Produced byBayerischer Rundfunk, Creado Film, Widermann & Berg Filmproduktion, arte

Official Site | IMDB page
Trailer: Small | Medium | Large




Ratings

Scale (Max)20

What the Critics say

Cape Argus / The Star
Diane de Beer quote iconThought provoking script, stunning cast and deft directing.
15
Cape Times
Kenneth Turan quote iconAn accomplishment worthy of all those awards, and more.
15
Mail & Guardian
Shaun de Waal
16
The Citizen
Leon van Nierop quote iconBleak but brilliant
16
Sunday Times
Barry Ronge quote iconNot your average spy thriller.
15
24.com
Ivan Sadler quote iconThis is as close to flawless as it gets.
20
BBC
Stella Papamichael quote iconYou just cannot help but watch...
15
Box Office
Kevin Courrier quote iconA fascinating look into the political and psychological underpinnings of communist control in the former German Democratic Republic.
20
eye Weekly
Liz Clayton quote iconIf all movies about horrible periods in history were as touching as The Lives of Others, Roberto Benigni might be able to sleep at night.
15
ReelViews
James Berardinelli quote iconWith solid performances and a terrific screenplay, this movie offers solid, no-frills drama that feels organic and believable, not contrived.
18
Rolling Stone
Peter Travers quote iconVon Donnersmarck has crafted the best kind of movie: one you can't get out of your head.
18
Metacritic.com
38 critics
18
Rottentomatoes critics
135 critics
17
Rottentomatoes tomatometer
Tomatometer quote iconAn emotional political drama with an intelligent script.
19

What the People say

Internet
19923 Netizens quote iconIntelligent and moving dealing with GDR history
17

Average .. 85%

17




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