Review: The Lives of Others (2006)

Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Written by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch and Ulrich Tukur

When it comes to films dealing with the past there's a certain unspoken responsibility for writers and filmmakers to be both as honest and respectful as possible. When I recently reviewed Casablanca I praised it for encapsulating the mood of the time, but I imagine the burden is even heavier on those looking back. While the former German Democratic Republic is generally remembered a lot more positively by those that lived in it than its opponents it had some dreaded elements that provide more than enough to serve as the basis of human drama. The Lives of Others does this exceptionally, putting the totalitarian Stasi and its intrusion into people's affairs under the microscope.

In the year 1984, glasnost and perestroika have yet to begin and the authorities in East Germany are their citizens under their thumb through a system of mass surveillance by the Stasi, the country's Orwellian security agency. Gerd Wiesler is committed to the motto "Shield and Sword of the Party" and takes on the assignment of spying on a major playwright, Georg Dreyman and his girlfriend Christa-Maria. Over time however, Wiesler grows increasingly uncertain of his allegiance to the state when he becomes emotionally invested in the lives of those under surveillance.

I won't delve into the history too extensively, but East Germany engaged in arguably the most extensive monitoring of its own citizenry and unsurprisingly many view the Stasi today as a criminal organization and advocate the imprisonment of former agents. I'm not here to provide an extensive judgment of the group's legacy, and instead simply acknowledge that countless people were victimized. Director Florian Hencklel von Donnersmarck, who was born in the West approaches this fact with the utmost sensitivity and honesty knowing that a script like this would hit close to home. Making a film about a history so recent poses an immense ethical dilemma and the filmmakers have approach it with grace.

The film deals with numerous subjects and themes simultaneously. What stood out to me the most was the question of how art can thrive under a repressive system of censorship, and what that means for those that choose to defy those in power. This then leads to a few other questions. Does absolute power corrupt in what seems like a noble pursuit? And what chance is there for those involved to redeem themselves and prove their inherently good nature? Though all of this is mostly communicated through all of its characters the real praise is earned by the late Ulrich Mühe. His transformation from a cold, near-robotic instrument of the secret police to a servant of true justice at his own expense. Often it's the unsung heroes that make stories compelling, and this only makes me more curious about real life examples.

The Lives of Others is one of the best movies to deal with the subject of communism and the memory of the former Eastern bloc. It's worthwhile stating that not every experience of East Germany was the same, but what we can accept is that political corruption, the state's paranoia and a disregard for privacy are all ugly things. Some describe this film as a political thriller, but I think it's more accurate to describe this as an historical drama that strives to show the common good in the bleakest circumstances.

My Rating: 9/10