Summary of the film The lives of others - Essay Example

Film Summary: ‘The Lives of Others’ Introduction The Lives of Others was shot in East Berlin Germany in 2006 through the creative production of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The premise of the film entails an investigation of Stasi Captain in East Germany 1984. The communist regime elicited political and romantic concerns in the country, and the relationship between the supporters and opponents of the regime resulted in a conspiracy that inspired the production of the film. Donnersmarck used a cast that agreed on working for 20percent of the customary salary and the film garnered a budget of $2million dollars and $77million at the Box Office (Nytimes.com). The film elicited criticism despite receiving widespread acclaim.

Roger Ebert described the film as quiet while Wolf Biermann criticized it for lacking originality in its political details (The Guardian). However, the impeccable production of The Lives of Others attracted awards and nominations. The film was nominated for Australian Film Critics Association in the category the Best Overseas Film, BBC Four, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and European Film Academy. The movie also won awards in German Film Critics Association, Sarasota Film Festival, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Deutsche Film, and European film Academy (Nytimes.com). The purpose of this analysis is to highlight concerns of political power, cruelties, a vindictive administration, trust, love and mistrust that result into a tragic end in the film.

AnalysisThe film deals with oppressive powerful regimes, but on a small scale level (Gritten, The Telegraph).The beginning of the film affirms the prevailing powerful regimes in East Berlin in 1984. The detention center of Stasi houses political informants to known details of all citizens and intervene in all possible controversies. Spying on Georg Dreyman affirms that the tension between the population and the government.The political power elicits trust and sacrifice concerns. A suffocating society has little room for expression and happiness (French, The Guardian).

For example, the East Berlin bureaucrats do not disclose the real reasons for the surveillance of Dreyman. Wiesler sacrifices his position in the Stasi team after learning that Minister Bruno Hempf is coveting with her girlfriend, Christa. Wiesler uses mistrust to avoid the brutal administration. Donnersmarck’s production is an eye-opener to state assassinations and cruelties carried out under the guise of socialism (Gritten, The Telegraph). The dominant mood of a tragedy engulfs the film that shows a man, Wiesler used by the Stasi administration to end conspiracy that he does not know.

The leadership damages his relationship with the Christia among other 16 million citizens framed to commit crimes. Wiesler cannot confide in Hempf and his boss Colonel Grubitz, who has a hunger for power. A vindictive society is depicted in the film amidst romance, fight for power and betrayal (French, The Guardian). Wiesler’s becomes curious about the way the administration treats the 16 million populations to an extent of declaring that they are suffering from ‘anthropocentrism’. Colonel Grubitz and Minister of Culture’s interest lies in turning the people against each other at the expense of national unity and collective safety and security.

ConclusionThe film, The Lives of Others portrays a society that triumphs through oppression, lack of respect for individuals and personal relationships and conspiracies destined to limit liberty from elected leaders. The film is a proof of elected leaders with self-interests who use their subordinates to carry out their selfish missions. Work CitedFrench, Philip. The Lives Of Others. the Guardian. N.p., 2007. Web. Gritten, David. The Lives Of Others, Review. Telegraph.co.uk. N.p., 2014. Web. Nytimes.com,.

The-Lives-Of-Others - Cast, Crew, Director And Awards - Nytimes.Com. N.p., 2015. Web.