The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others is set in East Berlin, 1984. This German film, which won the Oscar for best Foreign Film last year, tells the story of one man's surveillance of another. East Germany's government at the time was a socialist totalitarian state. No one was allowed to disagree with the Party or the State. Thus, the government sent the Stasi to investigate certain people they deemed "suspicious." One such man was Georg Dreyman, a playwright. So the Stasi sent Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler to set up shop one floor above Dreyman's apartment (audio, video, phone surveillance, etc.). By the way, its so mindboggling to see this technology and remember that we used to have to have wires connecting everything. Dreyman seems to be a devout follower of the Socialist Party, but one government official deems it necessary to spy on him, why? It turns out, its because this official has the hots for Dreyman's girlfriend, and thus wants him out of the way. Ah, governmental corruption. So will Wiesler find any dirt on Dreyman? Will there be any need to imprison him?
Let's focus on Wiesler for a moment. Near the beginning we come to the understanding that the man is a spying machine. He has no feelings, does his job perfectly, and has unswerving loyalty to his ideals. Yet he is human, we see him at home, lonely, wanting any human contact he can get (thus, a prostitute). But when he finds out that officials are using his "noble" job for personal gain, his heart begins to change. How much will it change though? Will he end up trying to help Dreyman? And if so, why? Is that redemption?
We as the viewer are appalled at the level of intrusion the government has upon these people's lives. We believe, as Americans, that we have our own right to privacy and freedom. This, I believe, is one of the highest ideals in American society. And this is a good thing, but sometimes our entitlement attitude about privacy can cause harm. We can become isolated from the rest of the world, from people outside our own small circles. We can claim that we have the right to do anything, and that our choices are ours alone; they obviously don't affect anyone else. Too much of a good thing?
The Lives of Others carries a very intriguing romance with it. Dreyman's girlfriend has to make some difficult decisions. Can they trust each other? In a society of suspicion and control (a la Big Brother) can anyone trust anyone? How can people have real relationships this way? The film also brings up the age old question "is it ever okay to lie?" Deception plays a key role in the characters' attempts to bring about justice. Is God pleased with that?
This German film puts us uncomfortably close to these people. We feel as though we are intruding all the time, and that is the point. Others ends up being a very good film, well worth the time (though I would have chosen Pan's Labyrinth as Best Foreign Film).
Let us be thankful the Iron Curtain fell, let us be greatful of our rights and freedoms here in American, but let us also remember that privacy and freedom can be abused by all of us. Let us take our rights as responsibilities and privileges, not as things we are automatically entitled to.