"The Lives of Others" , "Das Leben der Anderen"

German Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has made a wonderfully haunting film. I saw it this afternoon in a discount cinema here in Cologne. I had read about it but never had the chance to see the film. HH is with his Aunt this weekend so when the opportunity presented itself I took it.

Even if you don't speak German, and mine is not that great, you can't help but be taken in by this film. The work of Ulrich Muhe as an East German Secret Police Officer is simply brilliant - I've not seen a better performance in a film. The pacing, the set design, acting and the story its all work in telling this tale about what passed for life in the German East before the fall of the wall.

I hope you get a chance to see it ...