Finally sat down and watched this film properly this morning and I’m glad I did as it is an excellent film.
Based in East Germany in the early 80’s it is the story of a devout member of the Stasi, Gerd Wiesler, who is in charge of surveillance of a playwright and his actress girlfriend. As time goes by he discovers the real reason for the surveillance is because a minister is having an affair with the actress and this completely destroys his motivation. He begins to sympathise with the artists and he envies their lifestyle and resents how the state is controlling their lives and he realises how dissatisfied he is with his own life.
The production is excellent really capturing the drabness of the government offices and the buildings. The actors apartment however, always feels cosy and appealing like an oasis and it is also the subtle performance by Ulrich Muhe who plays Wiesler that really makes this film.
9/10
Note for dad: Completely ignore what I said about this film last night it was tosh!
