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The Lives of Others [Blu-ray]

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,631 ratings
IMDb8.4/10.0

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Genre Foreign, Drama
Format Color, AC-3, NTSC, Dolby, Widescreen, Subtitled, Blu-ray
Contributor Ulrich Tukur, BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK-TELEPOOL; Credofilm; Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Muhe, Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann, Martina Gedeck See more
Language German
Runtime 2 hours and 18 minutes

Product Description

Product Description

This critically-acclaimed, Oscar®-winning film (Best Foreign Language Film, 2006) is the erotic, emotionally-charged experience Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) calls "a nail-biter of a thriller!" Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's population was closely monitored by the State Secret Police (Stasi). Only a few citizens above suspicion, like renowned pro-Socialist playwright Georg Dreyman, were permitted to lead private lives. But when a corrupt government official falls for Georg's stunning actress-girlfriend, Christa, an ambitious Stasi policeman is ordered to bug the writer's apartment to gain incriminating evidence against the rival. Now, what the officer discovers is about to dramatically change their lives - as well as his - in this seductive political thriller Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) proclaims is "the best kind of movie: one you can't get out of your head."

Amazon.com

Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, this is a first-rate thriller that, like Bertolucci's The Conformist and Coppola's The Conversation, opts for character development over car chases. The place is East Berlin, the year is 1984, and it all begins with a simple surveillance assignment: Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe in a restrained, yet deeply felt performance), a Stasi officer and a specialist in this kind of thing, has been assigned to keep an eye on Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch, Black Book), a respected playwright, and his actress girlfriend, Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck, Mostly Martha). Though Dreyman is known to associate with the occasional dissident, like blacklisted director Albert Jerska (Volkmar Kleinert), his record is spotless. Everything changes when Wiesler discovers that Minister Hempf (Thomas Thieme) has an ulterior motive in spying on this seemingly upright citizen. In other words, it's personal, and Wiesler's sympathies shift from the government to its people--or at least to this one particular person. That would be risky enough, but then Wiesler uses his privileged position to affect a change in Dreyman's life. The God-like move he makes may be minor and untraceable, but it will have major consequences for all concerned, including Wiesler himself. Writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck starts with a simple premise that becomes more complicated and emotionally involving as his assured debut unfolds. Though three epilogues is, arguably, two too many, The Lives of Others is always elegant, never confusing. It's class with feeling. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Beyond The Lives of Others
Films from Germany


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from Sony Pictures Classics

Stills from The Lives of Others (click for larger image)







Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 5.25 x 0.5 inches; 0.01 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 6507809
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, AC-3, NTSC, Dolby, Widescreen, Subtitled, Blu-ray
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 18 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ August 21, 2007
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muhe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, French, Spanish
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000P46QTA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,631 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
3,631 global ratings
The Evils of Communism
5 Stars
The Evils of Communism
This superbly directed film by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck which clearly demonstrates the abominable lack of freedom which was the stark reality in 1984 behind the 'former' Moscow controlled, communist, Iron Curtain satellite of East Germany.The very accomplished, but regretfully now deceased actor Ulrich Mühe , himself born in the former East Germany, rivetingly plays the role of Gerd Wiesler, a East German secret police (Stasi) captain, eavesdropping on a celebrated playwright Georg Dreyman played by the wonderful actor Sebastian Koch, of 'Black Book' fame, and his live in girlfriend, portraying an accomplished GDR actress Christa-Maria Sieland, expertly delivered by Martina Gedeck.This movie should not be missed!The East Germany in this movie was where the current dictator of Russian was previously stationed as a KGB colonel, and now this neo-Soviet butcher is attempting to forcible reestablish his precious Soviet totalitarian empire by initially invading the small independent Caucasus country of Georgia. Which nation is next on the Kremlin's invasion list?If Western leadership does not quickly awaken from its self-inflicted slumber and confront Moscow & their cohorts, many of us in the Free World shall be languishing in the very nightmare depicted in 'The Lives of Others', except this time the 'others' shall be 'us'!
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Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2007
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Top reviews from other countries

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Douglas Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Have a look at your future.
Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2023
One person found this helpful
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ergberg2004
5.0 out of 5 stars Film culte.
Reviewed in France on August 6, 2023
Kejt i Jez
5.0 out of 5 stars Delivered very fast, good film
Reviewed in Sweden on July 22, 2022
Peter L Drake
5.0 out of 5 stars Dirigida, interpretada y fotografiada a la perfección / Superbly directed, acted and filmed
Reviewed in Spain on December 10, 2018
2 people found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Le Vite degli Altri
Reviewed in Italy on April 28, 2018
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Le Vite degli Altri
Reviewed in Italy on April 28, 2018
Titolo Originale: The Lives Of Others

Regia DI/Diretto DA: Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck
Cast: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muhe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur

Paese-Anno/Nazionalità: Germania, 2006
Audio: DTS

Genere: Storico (Thriller, Spionaggio)
Durata: 138 Minuti Circa

Distribuzione Italiana: Rai Cinema (01 Distribution)
Visto Censura: Film per tutti

Voto Complessivo/Giudizio Finale: 5/5

Vincitore del Premio Oscar (Miglior Film In Lingua Straniera)
Vincitore del David di Donatello 2007 (Miglior Film Dell'Unione Europea)
Nomination Al Golden Globe 2007 (Miglior Film In Lingua Straniera)

Opera prima di Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, Nonchè Capostipite unico nel suo genere.
Uno dei Miglior Thriller degli Anni 2000, Composto da una Sceneggiatura di ferro e da una Regia sensazionale.

Percezione di Ansia e Tensione dal primo All'Ultimo fotogramma.
Fantastico, A dir poco meraviglioso: Unico nel suo genere: Recuperatelo assolutamente.

Formato Video/BD (Blu-Ray Disc):

Rai Cinema (01 Distribution) Propongono L'Edizione L'Edizione 1 Singolo BD di Le Vite degli Altri
In Formato Video: Anamorphic Widescreen - PAL 16/9 - 2,40:1@ - HD 1080 24p (VC-1)

Trasferimento video a dir poco Impeccabile, Resa video Ineccepibile.
Realizzare un Blu-Ray migliore di questo sembra veramente Impossibile: Lo scudo di battaglia di 01 Distribution.

Veramente non è possibile, fare di meglio. Promosso a pieni voti.

Lingue-Audio/Sottotitoli:

Italiano DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / Tedesco DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Sottotitolato)
Audio perfetto, eccezionale, calibratissimo. Sincronizzazione eccellente, Doppiaggio fenomenale.

Contenuti Extra: 4/5

Commento di Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck
Trailer Italiano Ufficiale della 01 Distribution

Making Of, Dietro Le Quinte
Scene Tagliate

Non molti, Ma essenziali.

Voto Complessivo All'Edizione BD/Blu-Ray Disc: 5/5

Eccellente edizione Italiana Blu-Ray per questo meraviglioso Thriller.
Stupendo e Grandioso. Non ve lo perdete, Non perdete per strada questa straordinaria edizione BD.
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