Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Lives of Others, The (2006)

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-25-2007, 09:34 PM:

Wow. This is the best film that I've seen in quite a while. Recommended for anyone who is even slightly familiar with living conditions in pre-1989 East Germany.

Posted by Paul Burt (Member # 3743) on 02-26-2007, 11:52 AM:

Saw this film back in September at the Telluride Film Festival. The best film I've seen all year, no question. Brilliant script, impeccable acting. It just won the Academy Award, and well worth it.

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 02-28-2007, 11:11 AM:

I was impressed by the fact that this was the director's first movie - Years ago, I saw his short film THE TEMPLAR and was not impressed by his direction, although there was an unusual visual style in cinematography (DP Hagen Bogdansky shot bot THE TEMPLAR and LIVES OF OTHERS with Hawk anamorphics).

Donnersmarck really took time to research, write, cast and shoot an almost perfect movie that has a lot to say about controlling people and collecting data by the government, any place, any time.

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 03-23-2007, 05:51 PM:

quote: Christian Appelt
Donnersmarck really took time to research, write, cast and shoot an almost perfect movie that has a lot to say about controlling people and collecting data by the government, any place, any time.

I agree, and appreciate his restrained and detailed exposition of the forces of coercion the STASI used to keep the people in fearful submission to the Party. Without physical violence or macho heroics, this film is well titled, since the characters are all individuals, influencing each other's successes, failures, and very ability to live in subtle ways.

Early in the film two members discuss whether individuals are capable of change, and by the film's end we get strong and unexpected answers. The main character is a playwright, not a political figure, and the plight of the artist is presented with sensitivity. The motives of the Party officials and STASI men and their power to command loyalty are realistically developed,not as stereotypes but in convincing human terms.

There are touches of ironic humor, as in the casting of the prostitute, and the contrasting of the sexual lives of the security men with that of the artist.

A very fine film.
At the Kew Gardens Cinema, 03/23/07, properly presented.

[ 03-24-2007, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Gerard S. Cohen ]

Posted by Jared Thornton (Member # 3580) on 03-24-2007, 03:47 AM:

I'm in agreement with those above, this film is very, very good and should be on everyone, who's into this era of history, must see list. [thumbsup]

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 03-24-2007, 06:33 PM:

We have just started showing this one and it's getting a good response but it's not for me.

It just didn't interest me at all and as well as other European films with similar themes/topics. I would rather read about it than see the motion picture.

Looks terrible as well. Don't know why they shot this in scope.

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 03-25-2007, 08:45 AM:

quote: John Koutsoumis
Looks terrible as well. Don't know why they shot this in scope.

Terrible regarding print quality or are you referring to cinematography?
In Germany, LIVES was distributed by Buena Vista Int'l, they are notorius for really bad intermediate/release printing, and some of the LIVES prints were grainy and unsharp.

The film was shot with Hawk anamorphic lenses, which usually give excellent quality. The short film I mentioned (THE TEMPLAR) was shot by the same DP with the same lenses, and to me it looked almost like an old 5/70 or a very good blowup.

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 03-26-2007, 02:23 AM:

We have new print which is pristine I just don't like the look of the film. I took a second look at it yesterday and kind of changed my mind a bit. I suppose the cinemaography works in that it captures the mood and feel of that period.

Many of the shots are not razor sharp. Either the lenses are just like that (as is the Panavision C & E series Anamorphic lenses) or they just did not light it enough which is common in modern films.

The film does look very good for what it is, it's just that images made me depressed (which may have be the intention of the filmmaker).

Good for some but not for others.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 03-29-2007, 07:02 AM:

quote: John Koutsoumis
It just didn't interest me at all and as well as other European films with similar themes/topics. I would rather read about it than see the motion picture.

Ironic as it is, it is written by an australian lady. We held the book launch at the cinema last week for Dymocks.

I must admit that I have not had time to sit back and watch it yet, The opening 10 minutes drew me in and was very kreepy. I am looking forward to seeing this film properly when I have time.

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 03-29-2007, 07:56 PM:

Yes Cameron we had the author of "Stasiland" (Anna Funda) here 2 Sundays ago. The book has nothing to do with the film.
The films distributor Hopscotch, just connected the two since the share similar themes.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 03-29-2007, 09:09 PM:

John, I must admit that I thought it was very strange, if not surreal that a German Language film was written by an Australian! Thankyou for setting the record straight.

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 06-07-2007, 09:20 AM:

We recently ran this digitally, well I am not a great foreign language film lover but I had a look at this , an well I was blow away, it was a very slow moving film but so well dramatized , the acting was superb , I found myself thinking about it for days later.

sadly it did not draw a huge audience, it does deserve better.

4 out of 5 from me

Posted by John Caswell (Member # 4024) on 06-07-2007, 03:45 PM:

Hi, in reply to John K above, we ran both print and digital, and I was amazed at the difference.
35mm print looked awful, looked out of focus and grainy. Digital was exceptional, pristine, and sharp focused.

Was a great film too. Definitely the best film I've seen this year.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 06-08-2007, 09:00 AM:

I normally don't like films about unhappy people leading unhappy lives, but this one won me over. I give it 4 out of 4 stars.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 06-08-2007, 09:17 AM:

Long after most 2006 films are forgotten, THE LIVES OF OTHERS will still be cherished and watched. Somehow, someway, these filmmakers have made a compelling and engaging work that pulls you into the story and makes you care about the people you're watching. Great filmmaking. At least a 6 out of 5.

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 06-08-2007, 10:17 AM:

I had the same experience as BF. Best drama I've seen in years. Reminded me of the films I used to show in Berkeley when I started out in the early '60's. Now I'm in my early '60's.

I saw it in SF a few months ago and near the end the entire audience is enthralled and tears and sniffles are being heard all around, except by a guy a few seats to my left who broke out into a loud snore.

Oh well.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 06-15-2007, 04:19 PM:

One of the few films recently I really liked, and the best I've seen all year. The acting and the richness of the plot made this stand out, thought the soundtrack was very appropriate and the cinematography simple but effective. We've been running it for ages now, only place left in the West End doing so and we're still getting reasonable audiences.