A film that gets better and better as it goes along, towards an ending that's unpredictable, powerful, and mostly satisfying. The drama, direction and performances are top-notch, and the believability yet (mostly) unpredictability are traits rarely s... (read more) A film that gets better and better as it goes along, towards an ending that's unpredictable, powerful, and mostly satisfying. The drama, direction and performances are top-notch, and the believability yet (mostly) unpredictability are traits rarely seen in modern films. There were moments that left me shocked to the point where I found myself sitting there with my jaw dropped. The last act and ending are especially great, and whilst it's beautiful in its understatement, I almost wish it had gone the melodramatic route (i.e. SPOILER


Wiesler and Dreyman actually meeting at the end. Call me a sucker but I would've just loved to have seen that).

What can you say that hasn't already been said of this monumental film. It's a truly stunning and stirring piece of cinema that has the power to stop you in your tracks. It's thoroughly rewarding to watch and will probably leave you teary-eyed or at ... (read more) What can you say that hasn't already been said of this monumental film. It's a truly stunning and stirring piece of cinema that has the power to stop you in your tracks. It's thoroughly rewarding to watch and will probably leave you teary-eyed or at the very least, bring a lump to your throat - I can't recommend this film highly enough.

Le plus triste dans ce film, ce n'est finalement pas la mort de Martina Gedeck ou la retrogradation de Ulrich Muhe, mais le fait qu'un film si bien mis en scene, joue, musique et photographe soit massace par un scenario stupide que tout le monde, po... (read more) Le plus triste dans ce film, ce n'est finalement pas la mort de Martina Gedeck ou la retrogradation de Ulrich Muhe, mais le fait qu'un film si bien mis en scene, joue, musique et photographe soit massace par un scenario stupide que tout le monde, pour une raison qui m'echappe, se tue a enscencer. En bref, la vie des autres c'est le cinema et l'art qui s'inclinent devant la demagogie et le politiquement correct : on y a vu le renouveau du cinema allemand alors qu'il s'incrit dans sa pente inexorablement descendante.

Neanmoins, le film pose une question : comment, quand on a ecrit quelque chose comme "un beau film plein de sensibilite et d'humanite" (bonjour te©lerama), peut-on se regarder dans la glasse le matin ?

Very well done, very thoughtful film. I have always been interested in this era of European history because it seemed so extremely symbolic for the many problems of the past century and even today....all that and I was alive for it--but don't even re... (read more) Very well done, very thoughtful film. I have always been interested in this era of European history because it seemed so extremely symbolic for the many problems of the past century and even today....all that and I was alive for it--but don't even remember the wall going down. Anyway, the characters were very well thought out and the acting was wonderful. It has a good script too, at least the translation is a good text. I assume the German script is as good. It has some woefully unnecessary sexual scenes though. Perhaps the film's view of the importance of artists is also naive and simplistic, but I get what it's saying. Anyway, so yeah, worth seeing.

Outstanding picture and I understand that it addresses East Germany in a way that modern-day Germany needs.

The Lives of Others is a powerful but quiet film, constructed of hidden thoughts and secret desires.

How surprising that a new German film would teach Americans about human faith at a time when acclaimed movies like Borat lack faith.

Its suspense builds on the fragile and nuanced business of emotional rebirth.

The exceptionally acted film, nominated for a foreign-language Oscar, is an incisive character study, a suspenseful paranoid thriller and a vivid recreation of recent history.

Moving and deeply satisfying.