The Lives of Others 2006

(453) IMDb 8.5/10

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In this Oscar-winning thriller, we get a glimpse of 80s eastern Europe. Brutal official Wesler is spying on a playwright and his girlfriend but the longer he listens in the more he realises how much his life lacks. Slowly he doubts the morality of his job and walks a dangerous path between duty and his new reality.

Starring:: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe
Runtime:: 2 hours, 11 minutes

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Product details

Genres	Drama, Thriller, Action & Adventure, International
Director	Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring	Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe
Supporting actors	Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Hans-Uwe Bauer, Volkmar Kleinert, Matthias Brenner, Charly Hübner, Herbert Knaup, Bastian Trost, Marie Gruber, Volker Michalowski, Werner Daehn, Martin Brambach, Hubertus Hartmann, Thomas Arnold, Hinnerk Schönemann, Paul Faßnacht, Ludwig Blochberger
Studio	Lionsgate
BBFC rating	Suitable for 15 years and over
Purchase rights	Stream instantly Details
Format	Amazon Video (streaming online video)

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

5 star		377
4 star		46
3 star		12
2 star		6
1 star		12

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Top Customer Reviews

An excellent film

ByS P MeadTOP 500 REVIEWERon 29 March 2016

Format: Blu-rayVerified Purchase

"The Lives of Others" is a fantastic film. One of the best I've seen in some time. The events depicted are horrible and tragic. But at the same time, bittersweet.

This movie depicts life in East German in the early to mid 1980's, under the rule of a dictatorial state. The story follows the life of a man and his lover, as he becomes aware of just how bad things are. And the undercover police agent instructed to spy on the couple slowly realises that the social order he helps maintain is corrupt and evil.

It's a brilliantly acted film, with a fascinating story. This is a social and political drama, based on what life was really like in the Eastern Bloc.

This film is in German (with English sub-titles). The Blu-ray picture and sound quality is top notch.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

I am learning German and advised to see this film ...

ByMegon 24 March 2017

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

I am learning German and advised to see this film. Unfortunately Got a DVD without English subtitles. However, I managed to watch the film on another source so understood what was going on. Very moving film. Will watch it again so I can learn the language.

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Das Leben der Anderen

ByJ. Masonon 3 September 2013

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

I'm a student studying German at university and this film was on my course list this year. For that reason, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it at all- how wrong I was. This is one of the best films I have seen in a long time; the acting is absolutely superb! The storyline may not be 100% convincing, but let us not forget that it IS a film and not what really happened. This isn't one of those films which will make you feel good about yourself or laugh but it will leave you thinking about it for hours if not days afterwards and for me, that makes it unmissable.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

subtitles don't work - who sells decent copies?

Byvivienon 15 November 2015

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

the film is wonderful but now I have tried to watch it again and the subtitles don't work. Oddly, I had bought this before and there were no subtitles on that copy at all, and so I exchanged it, but now this feature is not working on this copy. I am hoping Amazon will do something about this.

amazon sent another copy and that too had faulty subtitles. I have been refunded but where can I get a decent copy of this DVD?

11 Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

ByALAN TILEYon 21 May 2017

Format: Amazon VideoVerified Purchase

Great film with a wonderfull ending.

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ByAmazon Customeron 1 May 2017

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

Excellent movie and supplier. I wrote a university paper on this and got a first, so definitely worth a watch!

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ByGLENN1275GTon 23 July 2015

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

bought because i have an interest in the era, and well fancy Martina Gedeck lol, was not disappointed, give it a go

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Byroon 10 April 2017

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

Best movie have seen in a long time, will watch again and again, so good value

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

excellent Read more

Published 28 days ago by allyfi

I have had the same problem as other reviewers with regard to the dysfunctional subtitles (twice). As there seems to be no publicly available solution to this (here) my advice is...Read more

Published 1 month ago by AK, Liverpool

Brilliant film, great acting and storyline, and informative too.Read more

Published 3 months ago by PETER D FRENCH

fantastic, deep. compelling Read more

Published 3 months ago by Miss Helena K. McKeown

Nicely balanced - just falls short of cheesy- ending is ...

See this film ! Elegant but with bucketfulls of German angst and self doubt. Nicely balanced - just falls short of cheesy- ending is a real tear jerking anti - climax Read more

Published 3 months ago by peter

Great alternative film.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mr P.

Published 3 months ago by Deta

I really like this movie, would recommend!Read more

Published 4 months ago by Kirloj

cooking Read more

Published 4 months ago by Pad

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