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IMDbPro

The Lives of Others

Original title: Das Leben der Anderen
  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
386K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,196
49
Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, and Ulrich Mühe in The Lives of Others (2006)
DramaMysteryThriller
In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
386K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,196
49
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • Writer
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • Stars
      • Ulrich Mühe
      • Martina Gedeck
      • Sebastian Koch
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • Writer
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • Stars
      • Ulrich Mühe
      • Martina Gedeck
      • Sebastian Koch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 564User reviews
    • 221Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Top rated movie #59
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 80 wins & 38 nominations total

    Photos70

    Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Ulrich Mühe in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Martina Gedeck in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Ulrich Mühe in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Thomas Arnold, Thomas Thieme, and Ulrich Tukur in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Ulrich Mühe and Ulrich Tukur in The Lives of Others (2006)
    Ulrich Mühe and Ulrich Tukur in The Lives of Others (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ulrich Mühe
    Ulrich Mühe
    • Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler
    Martina Gedeck
    Martina Gedeck
    • Christa-Maria Sieland
    Sebastian Koch
    Sebastian Koch
    • Georg Dreyman
    Ulrich Tukur
    Ulrich Tukur
    • Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz
    Thomas Thieme
    • Minister Bruno Hempf
    Hans-Uwe Bauer
    • Paul Hauser
    Volkmar Kleinert
    Volkmar Kleinert
    • Albert Jerska
    Matthias Brenner
    Matthias Brenner
    • Karl Wallner
    Charly Hübner
    Charly Hübner
    • Udo
    Herbert Knaup
    Herbert Knaup
    • Gregor Hessenstein
    Bastian Trost
    • Häftling 227
    Marie Gruber
    Marie Gruber
    • Frau Meineke
    Volker Michalowski
    Volker Michalowski
    • Schriftexperte
    • (as Zack Volker Michalowski)
    Werner Daehn
    Werner Daehn
    • Einsatzleiter in Uniform
    Martin Brambach
    Martin Brambach
    • Einsatzleiter Meyer
    Hubertus Hartmann
    • Egon Schwalber
    Thomas Arnold
    Thomas Arnold
    • Nowack
    Hinnerk Schönemann
    • Unterleutnant Axel Stigler
    • Director
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • Writer
      • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The punchline of the joke that Grubitz tells in the cafeteria, about there being no difference between Honecker and a telephone, is a play on the words 'aufhängen' and 'neuwählen'. In terms of a telephone it means hang up and redial, respectively. In terms of politics it means hang somebody and elect someone new.
    • Goofs
      Secretary Hempf's car is a 1980s stretch version of a Volvo 264. But all the interior scenes are shot using a Mercedes Benz S-Class Pullmann from the time of the film production. In a short clip the Mercedes is also used for an exterior shot, when Grubitz enters the car outside the ministry building.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Buchverkäufer: 29.80. Would you like it gift wrapped?

      Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler: No. It's for me.

    • Alternate versions
      The US version features a written prologue in English, explaining the historical context of the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 2006 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Ich Wurde Wenn Ich Wusste, Dass Ich Konnte
      Performed by 4PS

      Lyrics By Kurt Demmler

      Music By Joachim-Franz Bartzsch

      Published By Edition Air Franz

      (P) 2007 Colosseum Music Entertainment GmbH, Licensed From Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH

    User reviews564

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    I didn't fall for them.....
    Memories of the 70's and 80's visits in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) flood my mind while watching this film. Some are revolting, some comical and others are frightening. As a student of German, I visited the GDR several times to see pen pal friends. I remember one friend looking around and whispering to me in the S-Bahn - just in case one of the many "IM's" (unofficial workers of the Stasi) was listening in.

    I visited a representative of a magazine for western countries about the GDR and spent one memorable weekend sightseeing with her. Near the end of my visit, she asked me if I would work for them regularly by writing my opinion of "GDR Review" and its suitability for readers in the West. I would be paid in GDR money to use during further visits. After politely refusing this "offer" ("The police at home might not like it!"), I always had a sneaking suspicion that that was an attempt by the Stasi to recruit me.

    Years later I applied to see my "Stasi File". I will never forget the feeling deep inside me when I read in it: ".….is not suitable for our use due to his apparent connection to the police in his homeland." The beautiful, friendly lady in Dresden had been a Stasi informer all the time! All of my visits to the GDR and the people I visited were listed in that file. For me "The Lives of Others" is an authentic representation of that totalitarian state. I am glad that those times have ended.

    Congratulations on a well deserved Oscar!
    helpful•133
    18
    • ronsig
    • Feb 25, 2007

    FAQ6

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • I do not understand the "telephone joke" that Grubitz tells in the MfS cafeteria
    • How does Dreyman know when he sees the red thumb print on his file that Wiesler saved him?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 2007 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Khoảnh Khắc Cuộc Đời
    • Filming locations
      • Gedenkstätte Hohenschönhausen, Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion
      • Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)
      • ARTE
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,286,112
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $223,000
      • Feb 11, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $77,356,942
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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