I have just finished watching the film The Lives of Others (or to give it its proper German title, Das Leben der Anderen) I’ve been meaning to see it for 2 years now (I would have caught it in the cinema but was out of the country at the time) but somehow it kept getting bumped down the list.
On its release it seemed to get pretty universally rave reviews, countless vigorous recommendations from various friends and it won the best foreign language film Oscar (not that an Oscar necessarily means much). All of which made me a little apprehensive as I sat down to watch it that it might not live up to the hype. I needn’t have worried, and oh how I wish I hadn’t waited so long to see it. All I want to do is talk about it, and everyone I know who’s seen it saw it 2 years ago. Set in East Berlin in 1984 its basically the story of a Stasi agent who spies on a playright. If you haven’t seen it yet that’s all I’m going to give away, but I implore you to see it.
The Lives of Others is utterly utterly wonderful. A beautiful piece of film making, compelling, moving, brilliantly understated, sublime. There just aren’t enough superlatives. Its the best film I’ve seen in years and goes straight into my top 3 or 4 of all time. Beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, especially by Ulrich Mühe playing the leading role who puts in an astonishing performance and who sadly died, aged 54, only months after the film was made. Even more astonishing is the fact that it was written and directed by the rather wonderfully named Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and was his first feature film. That’s an astounding achievement. I’ll say it again, if you haven’t seen this film I implore you to do so. You wont regret it.
Combined the likes of The Counterfeiters, Downfall and Der Baader Meinhoff Komplex it really seems that German cinema has struck a rich seam of talent right now. Right I’m off to watch The Lives of Others again.
Here’s the trailer.
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