The Lives Of Others (DVD)

To say I left this film with tears in my eyes would be an understatement. My face was wet and I was so immersed in the plot and the emotion surrounding it, I was rooted to my seat until the last of the credits rolled off the screen and a fuzzy cinema advert jerked me back into the cinema, 2007. This five star film deserves every award it has gained and will gain. With a fantastic storyline, intense attention to detail and characters so real you want to walk up to them and hit them, hug them, shout at them or thank them, as the situation dictates. Words can hardly express the strength and depth of emotion this film creates from the first action to ...  Read the complete review

The German term "Ostalgie", referring to a sense of nostalgia for the East, has manifested itself throughout the country's culture in the years since the collapse of the Berlin Wall (part of the period known as die Wende, or "the change"). Music and memorabilia have reflected the fondness for the past, as has film; Goodbye Lenin (2004) perhaps chief amongst them. Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others), however, is very much a counterpoint to this mindset. Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's debut film is a sharply-observed, quietly devastating depiction of the darker side of former East Germany, examining the power of the Stasi ...  Read the complete review

Hope Always Dies Last The Lives of Others is hot favorite to win best foreign film at tonight's BAFTAs; some say that this level of foreign film is worthy of being included in the top best picture categories at the big award ceremonies. With the Oscars still not confirmed, tonight's awards will hopefully be the biggest and best this year and bestow this excellent German movie with even more garlands. It's very rare you get intelligent and beautifully acted film like this into the mainstream cinema and if you take your foreign film seriously then this has to be top of your list to rent, if you haven't already.. It's the fictional tale of two men as ...  Read the complete review

What’s it about? --------------------- A top Stasi (Secret Police) Officer is assigned to listen in on a renowned East German playwright. It is an experience which has far-reaching consequences for both. Who’s in it? ---------------- Unless you are an aficionado of German cinema, the chances are the cast will be unknown to you. Which is a shame, as it’s a top-notch cast full of extremely talented actors who deserve to be better known outside their native Germany. The most stunning performance comes from Ulrich Muhe, as Stasi Officer Gerd Wiesler. Muhe is incredible. Dedicated, the best at his job and almost emotionless, his ...  Read the complete review

The place is East Berlin, the year is 1984, and the police are listening. This time, they're observing writer Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), even though his work is pro-socialism. So what's the problem? In this case, it is because the Minister of Culture has the hots for Georg's girlfriend, the lovely actress Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck). That's enough to put top agent Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) on the case. Because if anyone can find something on Dreyman to help lock him away, Wiesler can. Of course, giving a Minister what he wants, could lead to some personal perks for Wiesler and his boss. The question is, is it worth it? This is the basic plot ...  Read the complete review