The Lives of Others (2006)
The Lives of Others (2006) is a German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, marking his debut as a feature film director. Set in 1984 East Germany, the film follows Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler, also known as HGW XX/7, as he carries out the order from his superior Anton Grubitz to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman. Despite Dreyman’s reputation as a pro-communist figure with international recognition, there is no evidence of disloyalty or dissent in his past. Wiesler and his team bug Dreyman’s apartment and report their findings to Minister of Culture Bruno Hempf, who has targeted Dreyman due to his girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland. Grubitz is baffled by Dreyman’s seemingly perfect image as a model citizen of East Germany.
After Wiesler intervenes and reveals Sieland’s relationship with Hempf, he pleads with her to stay away from him and stay true to herself. She makes amends with Dreyman. Dreyman’s acquaintance Albert Jerska, a blacklisted director, gives him sheet music for Sonate vom Guten Menschen (Sonata for a Good Man). Unfortunately, Jerska takes his own life shortly thereafter. In response, Dreyman anonymously publishes an article in Der Spiegel exposing the government’s cover-up of high suicide rates in the country. When Dreyman and his friends stage a fake defection attempt to test if his apartment is being monitored, Wiesler chooses not to report it and they feel secure. To avoid detection by the authorities who track registered typewriters, a Der Spiegel editor sneaks Dreyman a Groma Büromaschinen Kolibri – an ultra-slim typewriter that he hides under a floorboard.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Ulrich MüheHauptmann Gerd Wiesler  Martina GedeckChrista-Maria Sieland  Sebastian KochGeorg Dreyman  Ulrich TukurOberstleutnant Anton Grubitz  Thomas ThiemeMinister Bruno Hempf |
The Lives of Others (2006) is a German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, marking his debut as a feature film director. Set in 1984 East Germany, the film follows Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler, also known as HGW XX/7, as he carries out the order from his superior Anton Grubitz to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman. Despite Dreyman’s reputation as a pro-communist figure with international recognition, there is no evidence of disloyalty or dissent in his past. Wiesler and his team bug Dreyman’s apartment and report their findings to Minister of Culture Bruno Hempf, who has targeted Dreyman due to his girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland. Grubitz is baffled by Dreyman’s seemingly perfect image as a model citizen of East Germany.
After Wiesler intervenes and reveals Sieland’s relationship with Hempf, he pleads with her to stay away from him and stay true to herself. She makes amends with Dreyman. Dreyman’s acquaintance Albert Jerska, a blacklisted director, gives him sheet music for Sonate vom Guten Menschen (Sonata for a Good Man). Unfortunately, Jerska takes his own life shortly thereafter. In response, Dreyman anonymously publishes an article in Der Spiegel exposing the government’s cover-up of high suicide rates in the country. When Dreyman and his friends stage a fake defection attempt to test if his apartment is being monitored, Wiesler chooses not to report it and they feel secure. To avoid detection by the authorities who track registered typewriters, a Der Spiegel editor sneaks Dreyman a Groma Büromaschinen Kolibri – an ultra-slim typewriter that he hides under a floorboard.
