The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others

Introduction

The film The Lives of Others directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck takes place in East Berlin in 1984 where the population of the German Democratic Republic is kept under strict control by the Stasi, the German secret police. Gerd Wiesler, a cold hearted member of the Stasi, is given the position to collect evidence against a playwright named Georg Dreyman without his consent or knowledge. Many of the characters do not change their morals except for Gerd Wiesler, who at the beginning of the film is portrayed as a strict, emotionless man who takes his job very seriously. However, through his involvement with operation Lazlo, his character transforms into a more caring and understanding human being who becomes more sympathetic towards others.

Body Paragraph 1: Concern and Care for Others

Topic Sentence: As Wiesler starts collecting evidence for operation Lazlo, his morals begin to change and his character develops from a serious, emotionless person to a human that feels affection towards other people and he starts to see more to life than the Stasi.

Sonata for a Good Man

While spying on Dreyman, after his good friend Jerska passes away, he hears him play Sonata for a Good Man, on the piano which brings out his true emotions.

The director uses a rotational pan that circles around Wiesler while he is listening to Dreyman play the song. Donnersmarck uses this camera movement to show that Wiesler’s emotions and views are spinning.

Wiesler is visibly moved by this song and is miraculously transformed into a “good man” through the power of music. This is Wiesler's turning point in the movie when he decides to be the "good man" so to speak.

After hearing this song he begins to see life o...

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...Instead of going with the Stasi to search Dreyman’s apartment after the interrogation, he flees to do the right thing.

Conclusion

Minister Hempf strongly believes that people do not change but his statement is proven wrong by Gerd Wiesler who changes drastically throughout the film. Wiesler, who was once a cold-hearted, emotionless, workaholic, changes into a sympathetic and man who is able appreciate life outside of the Stasi. Watching and observing the lives of others can impact your life in the long run by making you view things from a different perspective. Through Wiesler’s observations with Dreyman and Christa Maria Sieland he gets to experience the closest thing to love and he sees what its like to be in a relationship and to put someone else’s needs before yourself. He learns that there is more to life than work and that appreciating others is vital.