The Lives of Others

I don't normally stray from books on this blog, but today I feel compelled to comment on a film.

Today, I saw The Lives of Others, a German film that I would have to argue comes close to perfection.

The film is set in East Germany in 1984, at the height of the power of the Stasi, the secret police who know everything and see everything.

Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler, is an idealist who joined the Stasi to support the communist ideals. He appears cold and calculating at first; he knows just how to break down informers and judge who is and is not true to the party.

He is set the task of surveilling a famous playwright, Gerd Dreyman, and his actress girlfriend Christa-Maria. Gerd is convinced Dreyman is hiding something, and assiduously attends to his task, until he uncovers the underlying motives of the minister who set him his task.

Slowly but surely, Wiesler is drawn into the world of his subjects, whose love is bold, fascinating and complicated - and certainly being affected by the society he works to uphold. Wiesler's beliefs are shaken, as is Dreymann's fragile world.

Without spoiling the plot, the situation comes to a head, and Wiesler must decide hpow far he is willing to go to protect the lives he has become so involved with.

The climax is shattering, and the denouement astoundingly beautiful. No trace of Hollywood triteness here!

The message is: GO AND SEE IT. It is rare to be so moved by a film, to really feel where the characters are coming from, and to care so deeply for their fragile worlds. It is as close to perfection as film can possibly get.