Today there is a new review posted of The Lives of Others, this year's Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Film. This German film tells the story of the surveillance of an artist by the East German secret police in the 1980s. Fascinating and complex, this thought-provoking film features an excellent script, sure direction, and strong performances.
Here is a direct link to the review: www.cinemautopia.com/thelivesofothers.html
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3 comments:
Great review...I'll add it to my queue immediately. I recently read 1984 and this seems to share many themes. As I read 1984 I was constantly aware and unnerved by similarities to our own government today. Did you have the same experience watching this movie? In other words, how does a movie like this play to contemporary American audiences? What kind of statement was made by awarding it the Oscar...besides proclaiming it a great film?
While watching this film, I did not especially notice similarities between it and an American context; in fact, by the end of The Lives of Others I was more aware of the contrast between the social and political challenges of unification in both Germany and South Africa (and in particular, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission).
Certainly there are issues that are important in the American context, but I think they are more general philosophical questions than specific contrasts.
As far as the statement made in awarding it the Oscar, I think that voters were especially impressed by a German filmmaker grappling with this significant issue in the country's recent past, and doing it so thoughtfully and so artistically. Of course, this alone cannot account for its win, as the other Oscar-favorite, Pan's Labyrinth , is grappling with 20th Century Spanish history.
As for how it will play to a largely American audience, I do not know. It certainly seems to have made more money (relatively speaking) in Europe than in the US, so the American audience seems rather disinterested. But I imagine that if they can get past the subtitles, many Americans will view this as a historical film or a character study, rather than an allegory.
I watched this movie yesterday, due in large part to your great review. This was indeed a marvelous film.
With reference to my previous comment, I was intrigued that this film began in 1984, which I think can hardly be coincidental.
After re-reading your review, I think I would argue that this movie is not the kind of "complex" movie you exemplify with Crash and Babel. While this is indeed a type of thriller, the plot is pretty straightforward. Crash, Babel, and the like are dealing with different issues of interconnectivity altogether. And while this is a great movie, I'm not sure the comparison is accurate. These are all great films dealing with different issues and themes.
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