Rent The Lives of Others (2006)

privilaged to view such a rare and fascinating film - The Lives of Others review by AC

At first I thought the film would be dissapointing as it seemed slow and grey! Good job we stuck with it. First impressions were setting the atmosphere for the unfolding narrative for a time that is alien to our society now. The characters are well portrayed, the twists to the plot are subtle and the storyline kept the viewer entralled. By the credit role we couldn't believe our luck in coming across such a fabulous film, my 16 year old son thoroughly enjoyed it.

Gripping - The Lives of Others review by RP

Set in 1984 East Berlin the film is German, with subtitles. But please don't let that put you off - it's superb. That's why it won the 2007 Oscar for 'Best Foreign Language Film' and why it's currently (Jan 2012) at #56 on the IMDB Top 250. Slow moving, yes – but gripping. It tells the tale of a Stasi security police captain (Gerd Wiesler, played by Ulrich Mühe) who is assigned to surveillance duty on an author and his actress girlfriend. But it soon emerges that this is being done for the advantage of a high ranking party official and Weisler becomes aware of the bleakness of his own life, the hypocrisy of the state machinery, and the need to do something. By his actions he assists in the publication of an article in the West German press, ruins his own career, and is the indirect cause of the death of the woman. A really excellent drama – highly recommended. 5/5 stars.

Procedural film about a real dystopia. - The Lives of Others review by Steve

Powerhouse, realistic political drama of a Stasi official in the old East whose loyalties begin to shift as he carries out surveillance on a charismatic, liberal couple working in the theatre. A film that makes you question your own worth and values. Starts slowly, but builds to an amazing ending that will haunt the rest of my life.

A masterpiece - The Lives of Others review by TD

A superb study of the repressive regime of the Stasi in pre-eighties East Germany. Ulrich Mùhe excels as the softening Stasi agent, his performance made all the more convincing by his own real experience of being the subject of surveillance. I found great optimism in this film.

If you're discriminating about the films you watch, this is for you. - The Lives of Others review by BM

A beautifully acted and directed film. Don't be put off by the opening sequences, it is "grey" and dour but it builds to an exciting story which is both thrilling, intelligent and sad. The last few minutes of the film are unexpected and watch for the subtle change of expression on the face of the actor at literally the very end of the film...heartbreakingly beautiful!

Partial subtitles - The Lives of Others review by CP Customer

We were looking forward to the film but the subtitles were incomplete and missed much of the dialogue. This is a problem for non-German speakers.

More of an education than a thrill - The Lives of Others review by CP Customer

Let's be honest from the beginning - I didn't like this film and was vaguely disappointed. It took me a while to work out why.

Basically, I think its because although the film is brilliant, I didn't like it. In addition, it is billed everywhere as a "Thriller", a "Political Thriller" and a "Psychological Thriller", but a thriller it ain't.

Quite rightly, this excellent film has won awards and plaudits everywhere. It is realstic in minute detail, informative, carefully and subtly plotted and scripted, and brilliantly acted. But there's the problem - as another reviewer says, "it seemed slow and grey".

If you want to be informed, great - but if you want to be entertained, give it a miss.