Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)

Director:

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Writer:

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (writer)

Release Date:

23 March 2006 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets

Plot:

In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Power Abuse | East German Culture | Wiretapping | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship | Female Frontal Nudity

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 55 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Martina Gedeck	...	Christa-Maria Sieland
Ulrich Mühe	...	Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler
Sebastian Koch	...	Georg Dreyman
Ulrich Tukur	...	Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz
Thomas Thieme	...	Minister Bruno Hempf
Hans-Uwe Bauer	...	Paul Hauser
Volkmar Kleinert	...	Albert Jerska
Matthias Brenner	...	Karl Wallner
Charly Hübner	...	Udo
Herbert Knaup	...	Gregor Hessenstein
Bastian Trost	...	Häftling 227
Marie Gruber	...	Frau Meineke
Volker Michalowski	...	Schriftexperte (as Zack Volker Michalowski)
Werner Daehn	...	Einsatzleiter in Uniform
Martin Brambach	...	Einsatzleiter Meyer

Also Known As:

Leben der Anderen - Die Sonate vom guten Menschen, Das (Germany) (working title)
The Lives of Others (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Czech Republic:12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Hong Kong:IIB | France:Unrated | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:15A | Sweden:7 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Italy:T | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:U | USA:R | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Altes Stadthaus, Klosterstraße, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)

Trivia:

The cover of the prop Der Spiegel magazine featuring the Dreyman article was designed by the publication specifically for the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Wiesler and Grubitz are having lunch with some Stasi-members, there isn't anything on their plates.

Quotes:

Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler: An innocent prisoner will become more angry by the hour due to the injustice suffered. He will shout and rage. A guilty prisoner becomes more calm and quiet. Or he cries. He knows he's there for a reason. The best way to establish guilt or innocence is non-stop interrogation.

Movie Connections:

References Salesman (1968)

The most underrated film of 2006.

Holy cow! What a terrific movie! I am a voting member of the Academy (actor's branch) so I get all the films for free. I've seen everything---60 films. This was one of the last 3 films that I saw---because I was completely unfamiliar with the title. This film slowly gripped me, but by the end, the grip was merciless. The lead actor, who should be doing The Life Story Of Peter Jennings, was wonderful. Everybody was terrific. Congratulations to the writers for their perfect structure---and to the director for his flawless storytelling---and his eliciting of top performances from his actors. How well cast it was.

But now I'm totally bewildered. Why haven't I heard anything about this film? Where was this film at the Golden Globes? I haven't even seen any reviews about it. Nothing! What's going on? I'm very active in the film business. I follow this stuff. This film (that I never heard of) took me by surprise as no other film has ever done.

Note to the IMDb: This is not a spoiler.

Jesse Vint III