The Lives of Others

16 September 2022

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

See

Him: Set in the GDR, a Stasi Officer, Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) observes then voyeuristically interferes with a State surveillance operation on writer Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) and actress Christa Maria (Martina Gedeck).

Her:

Think

Him: A repressive regime that tried to coercively control its citizens using tools that become its own undoing. People want to be free, and it’s in opposition that values emerge. 

Her: 

Feel

Him: On first watching I related to Dreyman, wanting to be a writer in Berlin, talented and believing in something. This time I felt for Wiesler. And how he shaped Dreyman’s art. Knowing that he was a “hysterical anthropocist’, thriving on persecution. Devising to cause no abuse, no scandal, nothing they can write about later. Not even interactions with guards. Release quietly 10 months later. And they never write again.” Instead events changed Wiesler and Dreyman. Best. Ending. Ever. “Sonata for a good man. An HGW XX/7, in Dankbarkeit (To HGW XX/&, in gratitude.)