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The Lives of Others (2006)

R | 137 min | Drama, Thriller

In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover, finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.

8.5/10
300,723

Rate

89 Metascore

Photos

Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Martina Gedeck

Christa-Maria Sieland
Ulrich Mühe

Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler
Sebastian Koch

Georg Dreyman
Ulrich Tukur

Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz
Thomas Thieme

Minister Bruno Hempf
Hans-Uwe Bauer

Paul Hauser
Volkmar Kleinert

Albert Jerska
Matthias Brenner

Karl Wallner
Charly Hübner

Udo
Herbert Knaup

Gregor Hessenstein
Bastian Trost

Häftling 227
Marie Gruber

Frau Meineke
Volker Michalowski

Schriftexperte

(as Zack Volker Michalowski)
Werner Daehn

Einsatzleiter in Uniform
Martin Brambach

Einsatzleiter Meyer

Director:

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Writer:

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Awards

Reviews & Commentary

Did You Know?

According to Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's commentary on the deleted scene of the prostitute at Wiesler's apartment, he auditioned real prostitutes for the part, until finally casting body painter Gabi Fleming.

Quotes

Guard: Stand still. Eyes to the floor.
Guard: Walk on.

Goofs

Secretary Hempf's car is a 1980s stretch version of a Volvo 264. But all the interior scenes are shot using a Mercedes Benz S-Class Pullmann from the time of the film production. In a short clip the Mercedes is also used for an exterior shot, when Grubitz enters the car outside the ministry building.