The Lives of Others
a.k.a. Das Leben der Anderen
Director:
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Cast:
Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur
DVD - Wide Screen Learn more
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- DVD Release Date: 08/21/2007
- Original Release: 2006
- Rating:
- Sales Rank: 5,351
FOR PARENTS
- Common Sense Rates this for Ages: More
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| Blu-ray - Wide Screen | $31.19 |
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Scenes
Features
Deleted scenes; Making of The Lives of Others; Interview with director Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck; Director's commentary
Full Product DetailsScene Index
Disc #1 -- The Lives of Others
1. Enemy of the State [4:06]
2. Important Indicators [3:32]
3. A New Vision [4:27]
4. Politics Partner [2:21]
5. Changing Mankind [3:59]
6. Hot Pursuit [4:41]
7. Birthday Deal [6:11]
8. Man of the Hour [3:50]
9. Opening Presents [6:45]
10. Meeting Someone [7:09]
11. Startling News [7:41]
12. Find Something [6:20]
13. Late Night Cap [4:46]
14. Counting Lives [4:22]
15. Safe Waters [5:33]
16. Play Wrights [5:09]
17. Project Success [4:06]
18. Anniversary Play [6:25]
19. Keep Ears Open [3:12]
20. Few Questions [6:27]
21. She Knows [2:50]
22. Your Audience Awaits [5:56]
23. State Security [4:04]
24. Mission Over [3:32]
25. Breaking Barriers [4:18]
26. Surveying the Situation [6:30]
27. On the Trail [2:11]
28. Gift for Me [6:57]
Editorial Reviews
A man who has devoted his life to ferreting out "dangerous" characters is thrown into a quandary when he investigates a man who poses no threat in this drama, the first feature from German filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It's 1984, and Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) is an agent of the Stasi, the East German Secret Police. Weisler carefully and dispassionately investigates people who might be deemed some sort of threat to the state. Shortly after Weisler's former classmate, Lt. Col. Grubitz (Ulrich Tukur), invites him to a theatrical piece by celebrated East German playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), Minister Bruno Hempf (Thomas Thieme) informs Weisler that he suspects Dreyman of political dissidence, and wonders if this renowned patriot is all that he seems to be. As it turns out, Hempf has something of an ulterior motive for trying to pin something on Dreyman: a deep-seated infatuation with Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck), Dreyman's girlfriend. Nevertheless, Grubitz, who is anxious to further his career, appoints Weisler to spy on the gentleman with his help. Weisler plants listening devices in Dreyman's apartment and begins shadowing the writer. As Weisler monitors Dreyman's daily life, however (from a secret surveillance station in the gentleman's attic), he discovers the writer is one of the few East Germans who genuinely believes in his leaders. This changes over time, however, as Dreyman discovers that Christa-Maria is being blackmailed into a sexual relationship with Hempf, and one of Dreyman's friends, stage director Albert Jerska (Volkmar Kleinert), is driven to suicide after himself being blackballed by the government. Dreyman's loyalty thus shifts away from the East German government, and he anonymously posts an anti-establishment piece in a major newspaper which rouses the fury of government officials. Meanwhile, Weisler becomes deeply emotionally drawn into the lives of Dreyman and Sieland, and becomes something of an anti-establishment figure himself, embracing freedom of thought and expression. A major box-office success in Germany, Das Leben der Anderen (aka The Lives of Others) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Why We Rated This Appropriate for Ages 16 and UP
What to watch out for
- Sex:
Several scenes show or suggest sexual activity. In the back seat of a car, a man gropes an impassive woman and undoes his fly as the driver watches in the rearview mirror; kissing and embracing between the primary couple; spy overhears a se... More
Several scenes show or suggest sexual activity. In the back seat of a car, a man gropes an impassive woman and undoes his fly as the driver watches in the rearview mirror; kissing and embracing between the primary couple; spy overhears a sex scene (viewers see its beginning) and records it in his journal; another somewhat steamy sex scene between primary couple; man hires prostitute (brief scene of their interlude, with her in lingerie); woman naked in shower (viewers see back, profile, breasts). Sex is traded for safety from the secret police/government. Close
- Violence:
Secret police interrogations lead to torture (cries heard off-screen); discussion of a character's suicide (and suicide in general); a central character is struck by a vehicle (bloody body on street as onlookers show distress).
- Drugs:
One character has an illegal pill addiction; frequent smoking (the movie is set in Europe, and the year is 1984, when smoking was more common); drinking at several parties and in bars.
- Language:
In subtitles: "s--t."
- Messages
- Consumerism:
Not an issue.
What Parents Need to Know
About TheLives of Others
Parents need to know that even if kids were interested in this subtitled German film, it's not for them. Set in the oppressive world of communist East Germany in the 1980s, it features psychological cruelty (including interrogation tactics like sleep deprivation) and one unexpected, violent death. A character's suicide prompts discussion about the government's efforts to cover up suicide rates in East Germany during the 1980s. There's also some fairly mature sexual material (a couple undresses and kisses in preparation for lovemaking, a man has an interlude with a nude prostitute, a government official crudely gropes a disinterested woman). Characters smoke lots of cigarettes and drink liquor.
Families Can Talk About
Families can talk about how a government like the one in the movie -- characterized by surveillance and lack of free speech -- affects its citizens. How do the characters' surroundings mirror their internal states? How does Wiesler change as he listens to life in Christa-Maria and Georg's apartment, and how can you tell his attitude is shifting?
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