Synopsis

In East Berlin in 1984, Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler is assigned to monitor playwright Georg Dreyman and actress Christa-Maria Sieland. As Wiesler listens to their private conversations, he becomes increasingly drawn into their artistic and emotional world. His growing sympathy conflicts with his loyalty to the state, forcing him to choose between obedience and conscience.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film's original German title is Das Leben der Anderen; it was released in English-speaking markets as The Lives of Others.

• The production used authentic Stasi surveillance and recording equipment borrowed from museums and private collectors. The props master had previously spent two years in a Stasi prison and insisted on historical accuracy.

• The film was made on a budget of approximately 1.6 million euros. The performers reportedly agreed to work for about 20 percent of their usual salaries to help the production proceed.

• During the piano performance of "Sonata for a Good Man," Sebastian Koch is actually playing. He prepared by practicing approximately four hours a day for six weeks.

• The film received 11 nominations at the 2006 German Film Awards, then a record for the ceremony, and won seven awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.

• It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, bringing major international attention to contemporary German cinema.