THE LIVES OF OTHERS (Robert Hessen tip)

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

I just received the following email from Robert Hessen about The Lives of Others. He has authorized me to post it here.

I warmly recommend THE LIVES OF OTHERS, dealing with East Germany before its collapse in 1989. The secret police (the "Stasi") spy on the lives of everyone suspected of being disloyal to the regime or the ideal of socialism. Ulrich Muhe, who won a Lola, the German equivalent of an Oscar for his brilliant performance, detects a trace of independence and non-conformity in a leading playwright and his actress girlfriend, so he begins round-the-clock surveillance of their apartment, spying on every conversation and intimate moment. But his adversarial attitude softens when he discovers that his boss, who approved the surveillance, has sexual designs on the actress. The story is exceptionally suspenseful and superbly acting. This movie earned eleven awards in Europe last year -- and I shall be rooting for it to win an Academy Award as Best Foreign Film this Sunday night.

It opened last week in Menlo Park and presumably is playing nation- wide, but there is no telling how long it will play, so see it soon if it appeals to you.

The film sounds great. Kat and I will make sure to have a date soon to see it.

Michael

[Chris Grieb]

The Lives of Others sounds like a very good film. It is interesting but sadly not surprising that film that expose communism only seem to come from the former Soviet Bloc. Hollywood except for a period in the 40ths and 50ths has never done films that show the inhumanity of communism. The film sounds very good and I will check to see if it being shown here in DC.

Edited February 24, 2007 by Chris Grieb

[Chris Grieb]

THE LIVES OF OTHERS won Best Foreign Film last night at the Oscars. This means the movie will at least be shown in large cities in the US. Maybe Hollywood will make Anti-communist movie here. Nah!

[John Dailey]

~ Hollywood? Make an anti-Communist (aka anti-Socialist) movie? One which really stresses the reasons for being 'anti-'?

~ When they make an anti-'Fundamentalist' one, maybe. But, they're too fundamentalist in their shared beliefs (including, but not only PC) to be interested, much less to be brave enough to get askance glances from power-cronies.

~ Not happen in OUR lifetime. Check the AcAw for best 'documentary' this year.

LLAP

J:D

[Chris Grieb]

I have made the observation that the anti-communist movies are being made in Eastern Europe.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Chris Grieb

[Robert Jones]

Horrors! I wish I'd known about this one, but I only see what foreign movies make it to San Antonio. Will see if I can get the DVD to review it while it's still fresh.

[Robert Jones]

Horrors! I wish I'd known about this one, but I only see what foreign movies make it to San Antonio. Will see if I can get the DVD to review it while it's still fresh.

Great! It wasn't widely released in the U.S. and I just checked out my local indy/foreign theater and it opens Friday night. Now I will have to haul ass to get back there from Santa Fe!

Edited March 8, 2007 by Robert Jones