Foreignocity: The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others (Sony Pictures Classics, R)

Most of us can live our lives basically the way we want to. You travel when and where you want, talk to who you like and ignore people you don't. But, the inhabitants of East Germany in '84 have no such luck.

The Stasi (East Germany's secret police) have the citizens on lockdown. Every move they make is liable to be recorded, written down or reported back to Stasi agents by an informant. Such is the case with popular playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch). His plays have always towed the socialist party line, but when a leading Stasi minister takes an interest in Dreyman's actress girlfriend, Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck), the order goes out to wire Dreyman's apartment and find something to pin on him.

Within days, long-time agent Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe) begins to split his time between teaching at the Stasi school during the day and spying on Dreyman and Christa-Maria at night. But, the loyal Stasi soon finds himself becoming interested in their lives in ways he never dreamed of.

The Lives of Others paints a full, bleak picture of life in a closed society. In a world where every word and deed can come under scrutiny, there are no bright colors or crisp shapes. The film is colored beige, brown and tan; everything is well-worn and used to the end of its life. The paranoia seems to have seeped through and taken away all youth and joy.

Muhe is perfect as Wiesler. We get the feeling that the character would probably be just as unsociable and bland had be been raised in West Germany, which makes his actions even more perfect. For all his un-excitable ways, Muhe manages to imbue Wiesler with a subtle, growing spark. For instance, when Wiesler takes important evidence to a superior, we don't see that spark in his eyes, but in the way he holds the document.

The Lives of Others is filled with small, gem-like moments such as this one. And even though it stretches on a bit too long past the two hour mark, it's definitely worth your time.