Das Leben der Anderen (2006) - dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck - 4.5 starsIt's no surprise that Von Donnersmarck's latest film won the best foreign language film award at the Oscars this year, among 33 other international wins. Everything from the convincing and natural acting to the atmospheric mise-en-scene provided by the sets, costumes and camera work, the film portrays a vivid picture of East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In particular, Ulrich Mühe and Sebastian Koch shine through as the best actors of European cinema so far in 2007, Koch reappearing on the silver screen after his successful part in last year's Zwartboek (Verhoeven). Mühe's acting is so brilliant that, even though he is a man of few words, you know exactly what he's going through. His character is extremely powerful, literally all-knowing. During the surveillance, he ends up becoming more than a spectator of other people's lives and transforms in reaction to what's happening around him, becoming a 'good man.'
The film might appear to be a historic drama, but it really questions the nature of man- the 'good man.' Is there such a thing as a 'good man' when our biggest incentive is our envy of others, when we want what they have? Are there any good deeds that are purely for good? Von Donnersmarck's characters answer these questions in a bitter-sweet end that will remain in my memory forever and regain my hope that the fable of the 'good man' can be true.
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