The Lives Of Others

[BobKKKindle$]

Has anyone seen this outstanding film? It is a more human portrayal of those working for the East German state security force, the Stasi (Described as the sword and shield of the SED - the ruling party of the DDR). I enjoyed this film because it shows how even people we percieve of as carrying out the dictatorship of a totalitarian regime are influenced by emotions, hopes, and fears - it made me think about how Socialists describe people who we percieve as enforcing the power of the state under Capitalism, such as the police, or those who we think betray their class - Scabs - these people are, after all, humans. The film also investigates the status of artists in the DDR and the censorship they were subject to. I also enjoyed the references to Socialist ideology - the Stasi is described as 'ensuring the dictatorship of the proletariat' in the opening moments of the film.

As the film ended I also thought about how we will not repeat the terrible mistakes of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact next time.

Any opinions?

[RedAnarchist]

According to the BBC News website, it won an Oscar last night - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6395861.stm

[Leo]

A better film on East Germany is Goodbye Lenin!

[Marion]

Leo - Liked Goodbye Lenin. What did you make of The Edukators? Had expected it to have really poor sixth-form socialist cliches (as I think one review I read described it) but thought it was actually pretty good. I should warn you that if you say you enjoyed it I'll be expecting the EKS to reject detailed analysis in favour of balaclava-clad stuntism...

[Leo]

Leo - Liked Goodbye Lenin. What did you make of The Edukators? Had expected it to have really poor sixth-form socialist cliches (as I think one review I read described it) but thought it was actually pretty good.

Educators was alright but far less successful then Goodbye Lenin as a movie, it had really boring moments like the pool scene and the endless repetition of the song 'Hallelujah' for example, although the acting was, as far as I remember, very good. It was watchable but it wasn't anything extraordinary.

If you were asking what I made of it's political messages, I try not to mix what I think about films and my politics (unless, of course, I am the one who is making the film).


I should warn you that if you say you enjoyed it I'll be expecting the EKS to reject detailed analysis in favour of balaclava-clad stuntism...

:huh: Huh?

[fatpanda]

i haven't seen it altough im pretty sure its pure right wing cdu/fdp anticommunist bullshit

and that this piece of shit won the acadamy award just shows how biased those nominators are

the antifascist pans labyrinth or the ken loach movie should have won

[fatpanda]

As the film ended I also thought about how we will not repeat the terrible mistakes of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact next time.

Any opinions?


communism has never been tried , only misused
don't believe the corporate imperialist opressor system

[Random Precision]

Lives of Others is a fucking sick movie. I particularly liked the way art was incorporated into the movie - the plays, the poetry by Brecht, the music (Sonata for a Good Man, I think it was called). It was a long movie but I've rarely felt so entranced while watching a film, even as it took a while to resolve - like the piano piece, I'm guessing. The character of the Stasi agent - forget his name - and his "fall" was perfect. The scenes where he hires a prostitute, where he reads the Brecht poem, where he encourages the actress... What can I say. Just beautiful.

And the scene where the Stasi lieutenant (?) tells a joke about Honecker to his friends - blew me away.

One problem I had with it was I do not think the Stasi agent would have been able to keep the playwright's subversive activities a secret for that long in real life. But I think it more than made up for sacrificing a little historical accuracy.

Also, closed for necromancy.