The Lives of Others

last updated 8 January 2015

'œIf there's any justice,' The Lives of Others will win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, said Anthony Lane in The New Yorker. The splendidly named Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has directed an equal splendid debut film that takes us inside the nightmare that was the German Democratic Republic. One of the Stasi's finest interrogators undertakes to snoop on a well-regarded Berlin intellectual. 'œKafka would recognize the logic: A man too good to be true cannot be trusted.' But as Ulrich MÃ¼he's sad-sack spy listens in on the life of Sebastien Koch's playwright, and his love affair with the actress played by Martina Gedeck, he questions the righteousness of his actions. His choice to reveal himself to his victim 'œtakes the story to unexpected, fascinating, and shocking places.' said Claudia Puig in USA Today. MÃ¼he brilliantly shades his creepy cipher into a nuanced portrayal of a regret-filled man. Right through to its note-perfect finale, von Donnersmarck's remarkable film 'œreminds us of what filmmaking can be at its finest.' Yet it lets its protagonist off a bit too easily, said Scott Foundas in the LA Weekly. Though the director expertly summons up the ghosts of East Germany, he 'œknows a good deal more about filmmaking technique and dramatic structure than about human behavior.' His heroic spy could hardly exist in real life, nor be redeemed so easily.

Rating: R