"The Lives of Others" German movie

The Lives of Others is a miracle of a film that manages to be both subtle and intense at the same time.Whats even more astounding is that this is the feature debut from German writer-director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who previously had made a few shorts and done some TV work.The international awards and acclaim The Lives of Others has received, along with a well-deserved Oscar nomination in the foreign-language category, should change all that. The movie is a political thriller but also a portrait of unexpected humanity - a marvel of controlled storytelling and mood, with brilliant performances. Then again, Henckel von Donnersmarck gives his actors rich material with which to work. These all feel like real people, flawed people, capable of mistakes and change who can surprise us as well as themselves. The members of the Stasi (the East German secret police) who rule this place - cruelly, arbitrarily, completely - arent caricatures but fully fleshed-out beings who inspire a real feeling of dread. To reveal much more would be a disservice. Well just say there are twists, ones that are both touching and stunning. And afterward they leave you wanting to see more from this filmmaker who clearly has a rare gift. It swept the nation of one of Germany's version of the Academy Awards and has dazzled audiences at a host of film festivals. It's no wonder: The German film (with English subtitles) is a thoroughly compelling political thriller, at once intellectually challenging and profoundly emotional