In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.
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The Lives of Others is a masterful portrayal of the dangers of surveillance, the power of art, and the humane ability to change. Set in 1984 (It is said to be an inspiration of George Orwell's 1984, as the year denotes, and for the similar themes in the film, but let's leave that for another day), East Germany during the Cold War. A totalitarian time when the Stasi were in complete power. Citizens could trust nobody as even the closest member of their family could be an informer which results in them living in fear. The Lives of Others is a political thriller that its strength lies in the silent emotional transformation of a Stasi officer, Gerd Wiesler, from a bitter authoritarian agent to a sympathetic and compassionate individual. Played by Ulrich Mühe, Gerd Wiesler's gradual and silent evolution from a cold, detached, and "corrupted" by the government agent to a…