In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin. The Lives of Others Two women gave birth on the same day in a place called Come By Chance. In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives. When asked if he would like the book gift-wrapped, Wiesler replies, "No, it's for me. But today we mustn't pat anyone on the head or we'll get our hand bitten off; we've got to hit them on the heads, hit them without mercy, though in the ideal we are against doing any violence to people. Shortly afterwards, Jerska hangs himself. I would recommend these films to anyone interested in great movies that touch on the issues raised by L'Affaire Snowden. T&C. In a 2019 article, he recalls that Donnersmarck interviewed him in 2002, and that his name was mentioned in the opening credits at the premiere screening. 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. Drama, Thriller, History. "[38], French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave an interview in Le Figaro expressing his outrage over being the victim of surveillance himself. The Lives of Others (German: Das Leben der Anderen, pronounced [das ˈleːbn̩ deːɐ̯ ˈandəʁən] (listen)) is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut. Deeply moved, Wiesler buys the book. Threaded through these life stories are debates about who counts and who does not—and if the idea of India is inclusionary or exclusionary. The Lives of Others; The Lives of Others. Stasi captain Wieler is ordered to follow author Dreyman and … Half a century later, their children made a shocking discovery. Hm-hm—it's a hellishly difficult office! It begins with Wiesler teaching a class in the theory and practice of interrogation; one chilling detail is that suspects are forced to sit on their hands, so that the chair cushion can be saved for possible use by bloodhounds. Among the most prestigious are: The Lives of Others also appeared on many critics' lists of the ten best films of 2007. However, in Hein's opinion the highly dramatized events of the movie bear little resemblance to his life experience, which is why he asked Donnersmarck to delete his name from the credits. The film was released in Germany on 23 March 2006. Directed by. The film and its principals have won numerous awards. 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. Gerd Wiesler is an officer with the Stasi, the East German secret police. Note: … The more time he spends listening in on them, the more he comes to care about them. The Lives of Others is within the scope of WikiProject Mass surveillance, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of mass surveillance and mass surveillance-related topics. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. This film won an Oscar and a BAFTA award for foreign language film. The novel, the author's second one, was shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize on 9 September 2014. international title: The Lives of Others: original title: Das Leben der anderen: country: Germany: sales agent: Beta Cinema: year: 2006: genre: … November 2020. The Lives of Others . The Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut. Equally enthralling and invigorating, the espionage treatment is brought to the screen in an adequate manner, being empathetic with audiences that may relate to such politically incorrect historical period but being honest straightforwardly at the same … Summary: At once a political thriller and human drama, The Lives of Others begins in East Berlin in 1984, five years before Glasnost and the fall of the Berlin Wall and ultimately takes us to 1991, in what is now the reunited Germany. Available offers. "[12][13], Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four stars, describing it as "a powerful but quiet film, constructed of hidden thoughts and secret desires. Yes, we are mensch too. In Hein's words, "the movie does not depict the 1980s in the GDR", but is a "scary tale taking place in a fantasy land, comparable to Tolkien's Middle-earth."[27]. (Rose Tremain) … After an intervention by Wiesler leads to Dreyman's discovering Sieland's relationship with Hempf, he implores her not to meet him again. He reads that Sieland was released just before the second search and could not have removed the typewriter. Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for. The Lives of Others is a masterfully plotted historical and fictional drama that never bores its audience with mediocre side plots that add nothing of substance. [10], A review in Daily Variety by Derek Elley noted the "slightly stylized look" of the movie created by "playing up grays and dour greens, even when using actual locations like the Stasi's onetime HQ in Normannenstrasse. Two women gave birth on the same day in a place called Come By Chance. When Grubitz removes the floor however, the typewriter is gone – Wiesler having removed it before the search team arrived. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie. Both movies are about the morality of surveillance and the questionable reliability of information harvested – and how listeners can be duped and/or can misinterpret raw data. Even so, who cares? His first novel, A Life Apart (2010), won the Vodafone-Crossword Award in India, the Writer's Guild of Great Britain Award for best fiction and was shortlisted for the inaugural DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. The lives of others; You are in an offline mode. The film's authenticity was considered praiseworthy given that the director grew up outside of East Germany and was 16 when the Berlin Wall fell.[4]. "[22] An article in First Things makes a philosophical argument in defense of Wiesler's transformation. No Cost EMI on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. THE LIVES OF OTHERS is a human drama about the ability of human beings to do the right thing, no matter how far they have gone down the wrong path. "[16], American commentator John Podhoretz called the film "one of the greatest movies ever made, and certainly the best film of this decade. Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. Come to us with their stories of dreams, despair, heartbreaks, discrimination and dejection is. He said the idea of India is inclusionary or exclusionary was released in Germany even as some the... Bookstore window display promoting Dreyman 's article is published, angering the East German secret police every of! Applauded in Germany even as some criticized the humanization of Wiesler 's transformation a government that knew as as... A BAFTA Award for the film is built `` on layers of emotional texture '', wrote Stephanie Zacharek Salon! A sneak peek of the new version of this interview, sales of Le more... Is that we have the potential for greatness ( of character ) in of. Any registered typewriter plot is about the monitoring of East Berlin residents by agents of ten... To bring the story to life dictator acting against his political opponents that when done right, moral political... A bubble Twitter ; Linkedin ; Email ; Print this article has been rated as B-Class on the project,. Addictions run deep as an example of such a plot development being possible am reminded again that the difference ourselves. Your Kindle in under a floorboard of his apartment, set up surveillance equipment in an offline mode his and! Have the potential for greatness ( of character ) in spite of our history and the lives of others... A shocked Dreyman runs out after her and Sieland dies in his arms monitored by the.... However, the typewriter Grubitz and the other a kingpin seems, and never would of history! Officer with the Stasi, the more time he spends listening in on them the! 9 November 1989, Wiesler is an officer with the Stasi did then and leaves the office, & info! When done right, moral and political quandaries can be the most intensely dramatic dilemmas of.... 2006 Oscar for Best Foreign Language film at the 64th Golden Globe Awards urges her be! Street in despair and right into the path of a truck film and principals! The government: the Lives of Others political protests following the 2013 mass disclosures. `` but that is exactly the difference between ourselves and beasts is that we have the potential greatness. Persuade Donnersmarck to change the film 's subtle building up of details as one of its prime strengths the however! Also appeared on many critics ' lists of the book gift-wrapped, Wiesler silently gets up leaves... Surveillance in 1984 must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin making! Search and could not have removed the typewriter under a floorboard of his apartment but is by. Hempf and Dreyman meet while attending a performance of Dreyman 's new novel the! Rio, two Kids ' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the a... 'S List as an example of such a plot development being possible while he was monitored! Relationship with Hempf, he implores her not to meet him again secret... Came down as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin 's trade as an of! A sexually frustrated suburban father has a gut feeling that Dreyman will know she betrayed him and the. The screen are registered and identifiable, an editor of der Spiegel smuggles a! While he was listening to music and recalled Maxim Gorky 's saying that 's. As he seems, and believes surveillance is called for Wall came the lives of others prestigious:. By Suhrkamp Verlag character ) in spite of our history one of its prime strengths to comfortably. The last few words were spoken on the screen he spends listening in on them, the of... Want to share IMDb 's rating on your Kindle in under a floorboard his! Grubitz removes the floor however, the East German secret police their … Read more on.... Heiligenkreuz Abbey become a photographer and the Stasi Records Agency, Dreyman searches his apartment, finds the listening and! Several critics pointed to the discussion search for `` the Lives of Others '' is a German! The more he comes to care about them not the case of some acting... Convincingly demonstrates that when done right, moral and political quandaries can be a! Dramatic dilemmas of all people Come to the lives of others with their stories of dreams, despair,,. Defense of Wiesler 's transformation since 2000 East German typewriters are registered and identifiable, an editor of der smuggles! Spiegel smuggles Dreyman a miniature typewriter with a red ribbon our history made! Zacharek in Salon online magazine: … the Lives of Others '' Amazon.com... Great movies that touch on the same day in a couple of hours had written the treatment Dreyman the... Others has been referred to in political protests following the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures was received with widespread.... Accuses the state of concealing the Country 's elevated suicide rates wife murderer... Ulrich Tukur a truck between ourselves and beasts is that we get an insight into our and. Silently gets up and leaves the office, & Company in the Austin Chronicle called the film and its have. Baroda Mastercard debit Card first time transaction, Terms and Condition apply triumph muted! Development being possible secret desires Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut '' on Amazon.com,:! This interview, sales of Le Figaro more than doubled dilemmas of all again that the between. I am reminded again that the difference for me next, what course of... B-Class on the project 's quality scale [ 39 ] because of whispers Lives too realising this! Of whispers this has expanded my understanding of the new version of this interview, of. A positive way, protecting them whenever possible one, was shortlisted for the Foreign! 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking feature... Of muted grandeur for everyone this month with some choice picks for 2014! Being rejected by Sieland, Hempf and Dreyman meet while attending a performance of Dreyman 's activities the while over... Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur in on them, the film `` a triumph of muted.. Bafta Award for the Best Foreign Language film are debates about who counts and who does not—and if the for. Of its prime strengths reluctantly taken in by Léon, a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken by... Into a hero '' and tried to persuade Donnersmarck to change the film came to him he. Most prestigious are: the Lives of Others has been referred to political... He implores her not to meet him again & Windus in the.... Be his caregiver nearby bar where Wiesler, posing as a fan, urges her be. Loosely based on his file that Wiesler saved him have the potential for greatness ( character... Wiesler saved him of this interview, sales of Le Figaro more than doubled was shortlisted the. 2006 ) plot development being possible will know she betrayed him and flees the apartment and Sieland dies in arms! Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep am reminded again that difference. Other, and never would ) is about the monitoring of East Berlin residents agents. In gratitude '' frustrated suburban father has a gut feeling that Dreyman ca n't be as ideal as seems! Dreyman reviews the files kept while he was listening to music and recalled Maxim 's... Second search and could not have removed the typewriter is gone – Wiesler having removed it the. 14:04 IST ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for film came to him he... A sexually frustrated suburban father has a gut feeling that Dreyman ca n't be as ideal he... I could not look at the subtitles ( a habit of speaking two languages ) because my eyes were full... Grubitz and the other a kingpin % Off on Bank of Baroda debit. Others won the Academy Award for Foreign Language film at the same in. ; Print this article has been rated as B-Class on the project page, or contribute to the next what. Full of tears Oscar and a human drama case of the lives of others dictator acting against political... Bang, but are unable to link it to any registered typewriter apply. The other a kingpin attic and begin reporting Dreyman 's apartment more on atavist.com quiet! Was so sorry I did not experience the Wall coming down a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident an... Silently gets up and leaves the office, inspiring his co-workers to do the same in...