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Feb. 22nd, 2007 06:59 pm11. The Lives of Others
Set in late 1984 (an obvious but appropriate allusion), this one provides an interesting look into the monitoring practices of the East German state police. It moves a little slow, but all the build-up pays off in the film’s climax and denouement. Especially interesting are the visual differences between East and West Berlin (what few glimpses we get of the later, anyway), and the almost universal acceptance of the way things are, despite the knowledge that life is better almost anywhere else in Europe.
I don’t think this one will take the Oscar on Sunday night, but it’s definitely worth checking out. There aren’t a lot of post-Cold War movies about life in East Germany, and this one is easily at the top of that short list.
Set in late 1984 (an obvious but appropriate allusion), this one provides an interesting look into the monitoring practices of the East German state police. It moves a little slow, but all the build-up pays off in the film’s climax and denouement. Especially interesting are the visual differences between East and West Berlin (what few glimpses we get of the later, anyway), and the almost universal acceptance of the way things are, despite the knowledge that life is better almost anywhere else in Europe.
I don’t think this one will take the Oscar on Sunday night, but it’s definitely worth checking out. There aren’t a lot of post-Cold War movies about life in East Germany, and this one is easily at the top of that short list.
