Wiesler begins to be deeply affected by the art he inadvertently witnesses through the wiretaps placed in Dreymans apartment below him.

Realistic character development is something modern cinema offerings usually lack. The generally allotted two hours is not a lot of time to properly introduce and flesh-out rich, layered, believable personas, especially while moving a story forward in a way that keeps an audience engaged.

Academy Award winning German-language film The Lives of Others (or Das Leben der Anderen) accomplishes this rarity beautifully and succinctly, weaving complex characters through an intriguing storyline that incorporates drama, suspense, humor and true feeling set in bleak, Cold-War-period East Berlin.

Sebastian Koch plays Georg Dreyman, an East German playwright who is considered by the state authorities to be one of the only remaining artists loyal to the socialist German Democratic Republic.

Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, played by Ulrich Muhe, is a by-the-book agent of the Stasi, the government organization responsible for spying on residents suspected of subversive activity. Despite the faith Wieslers superiors have in Dreyman, Wiesler does not trust his loyalty.

When Wiesler suggests and volunteers to conduct surveillance on Dreyman, Wiesler begins to become personally invested in the lives of the writer and his lover, Christa-Marie Sieland (Martina Gedeck).

While the film appears at first to be about the life of Dreyman, the storys focus shifts to Wiesler. Throughout the film, Wiesler experiences many inner struggles as he realizes many of his Stasi colleagues are merely focused on personal gain.

Wiesler, who genuinely believes in furthering the socialist cause, strives earnestly to do his job for the good of the state. Wiesler begins to be deeply affected by the art he inadvertently witnesses through the wiretaps placed in Dreymans apartment below him.

The films thematic elements can be observed as each main character faces intense internal conflict and witnesses first-hand the power of art.

Wiesler is challenged with decisions that test his character and force him to decide which courses of action are best in line with what he truly believes. The film maintains suspense as the audience watches Wiesler struggle between choices that could potentially destroy Dreymans life.

Theatrical trailers and movie posters for The Lives of Others focused mainly on the surveillance aspect of the East German Stasi; however this is not really the films main subject matter. While viewers with or without a pre-existing interest in espionage will find The Lives of Others fascinating, more attention is paid to the characters than spy methods and technology.

Given its subject matter, the films visual style is appropriately gritty. The sets and camera work convey the perceived feeling of the time. Most outdoor scenes take place at night or during a gray, cloudy day, furthering the aesthetic of suspicion, tension and hopelessness.

Amazing acting, filming technique and story come together in The Lives of Others to form a film truly deserving of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This well-acted drama about an intriguing period of history has much to offer any film-goer.

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