You're funny. Balls don't have names

An important movie, placed in a time so close, in a place so near with a history so scary that every single European should watch.

"The Lives of Others" is a gripping tale about the stifling control of the East German Stasi over its citizenry. The story follows an East German writer and his actress girlfriend. A Stasi agent bugs their apartment and then spies on them night and day. They are under the constant watch of the Stasi and then some unexpected events occurs. I really don't want to give away any of the twists and turns of the story which moves at a leisurely pace but is totally engrossing. The acting is superb and you can't help but like the citizens and hate the officers of the Stasi. The cinematography is mostly gray and depressing the controlling fist of the East German government clearly dominates its people. I really liked the ending. It was absolutely flawless and was accomplished in a fashion I never expected.

The original title of the film is Das Leben der Anderen.

This film blends in a tragic love story with the story of a man who is completely dedicated to his job and country. As the story goes along the man (a respected member of the ever-present government) starts to doubt himself and his duty when a superior crosses the line. I know, that's an awful description and that's ok. It's a movie that is tough to describe without saying too much. All that said..... I adore this film. The moral dilemma of the member of the Stasi was brewing for much of the movie and finally came to a head near the end. I read that the actor (who died shortly after the film was made) was active in the same community of artists that are a big part of the film. After all, artists usually play a large role in change and that certainly happened here. And finally, the ending. Simply magnificent. This is definitely one of my favorite films of all time. follow me at https://IHateBadMovies.com or facebook IHateBadMovies