THIS is the German film that, to the surprise of many observers, scooped the best foreign language film Oscar this year from under the nose of expected winner Pan's Labyrinth.
It's all the more surprising as Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's directing debut is an unfussy, unshowy affair that simply tells a fascinating story extremely well without distracting gimmicks or flashy editing.
The story opens with the interrogation of a suspect under the repressive GDR regime by state security captain Gerd Wiesler (Muhe, in a remarkably restrained performance that's no less effective for being that).
His technique is efficient and merciless.
No wonder he tape records the entire session to play classes he teaches at the College of the State Security as an example of how it should be done.
His next assignment involves round-theclock surveillance of playwright Georg Dreyman (Koch) who's suspected of preparing a magazine article of which the authorities would not approve. A former classmate, now his boss in the state security department (Tukur), has his own reasons for silencing the writer, whose girlfriend (Gedeck) has a key role to play in the deceit and drama that follows.
The Lives Of Others doesn't sound promising but even the long running time doesn't seem a minute too long as the gripping personal and political drama in played out.
Stars: Martina Gedek, Ulrich Muhe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur
Running time: 137 mins
Rating: Four stars
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