The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)

Real communism collapsed with the fall of the Berlin wall, but there are still  many stories to tell, like "The Life of the Others", the unforgettable and moving film by Florian Henckel von Donnersmack. And yes, if there was a higher status than excellent and an exclusive club of a superior category, this first film by the German director would belong to it.

In 1984, in the German Democratic Republic, Gerd Wiesler was the star captain of the Stasi, the very feared secret police of the communist regime, composed of 91,000 officers that chased the suspects’ opponents of the regime.

For their surveillance, they counted on the support of around 170,000 confidants whom they called "informal agents". An euphemism, of course, but then everything was all hiding under an euphemism, starting with the label "democratic."

Wiesler received the order to spy on the couple formed by the important playwrighter Georg Dreyman and his girlfriend, the famous actress Christa-Maria Sieland. In principle, in a communist regime everyone is a suspect, especially if you are an intellectual, but Dreyman has the further misfortune of a senior minister being interested in his girlfriend.

And that is the main theme of this film: how humans can change, how, despite being exposed to shame, to weakness and fear, we can find traces of humanity and initiate a path of redemption.

"We all live in the mud but sometimes we look to the stars," said Oscar Wilde. Wiesler is a man who lives in the mud but who will get the chance to look at the stars thanks to the change brought by an encounter. “Wiesler's redemption” you could call this story, or simply "The sonata of a good man," which is the name of the piece that steals a tear out of Wiesler while he is   listening to the song played by Dreyman.

A small action, a small gesture, perhaps this is the maximum that is allowed to oppose political barbarism. While nothing will change the course of history, while it may be of little use, it is worth the while.

A small gesture that must be done, even without witnesses and without waiting for prizes or awards. This is what Wiesler did and what restored his dignity. That's what this movie says without moralizing or grandstanding: just with good performances and sober image close-ups.

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Writer: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Stars: Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch