The Lives of Others

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The Lives of Others

R

Released Feb 9, 2007

2h 17m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

162 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck). Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria and orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.

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Critics Consensus

Unlike more traditional spy films, The Lives of Others doesn't sacrifice character for cloak and dagger chases, and the performances (notably that by the late Ulrich Muhe) stay with you.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

As [Captain Gerd] Weisler discovers his real self, layer by layer, we are in the presence of a masterful performance.

May 7, 2019

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Donnersmarck makes an assured debut, builds the atmosphere of deceit, suspicion and suffocation and also undercuts it with some jokey moments.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 30, 2019

Full Review

Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

The Lives of Others is exquisitely tense, with massive stakes and a pervasive sense of danger.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

Brilliantly told through exceptional performances and dynamic storytelling, this heart-wrenching thriller is a triumph of nuanced tension centred on rediscovering one's humanity in a place where it seems forgotten.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 8, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

'The Lives of Others' is dark, but burning beneath the scathing political exposé of the GDR’s despotic paranoia and the personal tragedy of the drama is a bracing story of idealism, disillusionment, and defiance.

Apr 14, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

It is an exceptional piece of intrigue in the deepest shades of gray in which the culture of fear of being spied on was deeply heightened.

Feb 22, 2023

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Daniel X

Sensitive, deep, and tense ! Very important to keeo us aware of something that was happening "yesterday", and is still happening today, but in different ways !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Tilman G

The Lives of Others is a visually masterfully staged work that captures the dark atmosphere of the GDR in an op- and impressive way. The craftsmanship of the film is remarkable (especially for a German film) and can compete with the best productions on an international level. Ulrich Mühe as Wiesler is absolutely outstanding. However, Wiesler's character development, especially with regard to his transformation, is not entirely convincing at times and is difficult to understand. Nevertheless, the film remains a touching, multi-layered drama about surveillance, morality and resistance to a totalitarian regime.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/25

Full Review

Liam D

An very tense drama that has an amazing performance and taut direction

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

Pip S

The best German film I have personally seen. One of the best movies I've seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

Alejandra O

A masterpiece. One of the best films of the early 2000s

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/25

Full Review

Susan N

I had wanted to watch this movie when it first came out, because I had heard it was excellent. Many years later, I finally did. It certainly was worth seeing. The story, the acting, the setting of Communist East Germany were all really superb. I thought it was the best movie I have seen in a long time. The ending was a positive one, and very touching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

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Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Director

Martina Gedeck

Christa-Maria Sieland

Ulrich Mühe

Capt. Gerd Wiesler

Sebastian Koch

Georg Dreyman

Ulrich Tukur

Lt. Col. Anton Grubitz

Thomas Thieme

Minister Bruno Hempf

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The Lives of Others: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck). Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria and orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Producer: Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann
Screenwriter: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Creado Film, Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, Arte, Bayerischer Rundfunk
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3M
Runtime: 2h 17m

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