, The Lives of Others is at once a political thriller and a human drama. You are in the midst of creating a story about your life, right at this moment. The 2006 film The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) is about you; it’s about all of us. | The film opens in East Berlin in 1984 with a sequence that alternates scenes from an interrogation with scenes from a training class for aspiring officers of the Stasi, or secret police. Hope to see you again soon. The once rigid Stasi officer begins to intervene in their lives, in a positive way, protecting them whenever possible. Synopsis In Chinese, there is this saying, “There is always a difficult chapters for every family to read” (to have a skeleton in cupboard). 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. The film won the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film of 2006. The wall divides, poverty abounds, life is harsh. I’m so pleased that you like this film and my analysis. Hence, The Lives of Others is more about the persecution of human beings throughout time and a powerful message to us to get to know what we do not understand. The Minister of Culture agrees but only later does Wiesler learn that the Minister sees Dreyman as a rival and lusts after his partner Christa-Maria. The Lives of Others subtly evokes a vindictive society that exists by turning citizens against each other in the interests of national unity and collective security. Although this gorgeous film ends tragically, the lives of Wiesler, Dreyman and Sieland merge into a poetry about the human condition. Skeleton in the cupboard is very descriptive. Plot Keywords I lived in the Soviet Russia, and in reality, people like Wiesler were so profoundly injured as human beings that it was unlikely for such transformation to actually take place, in my opinion. Indeed, you do not know yourself outside of the story that you create about your life. Much love to you, Warmly, Deborah. Woman, in contrast, is the nurturer, the protector, the healer; she’s more emotional, artistic and understanding; she responds with heart rather than solely from rules and regulations. I have not watched this great film . The makings of your everyday life are the seeds for this powerful story that you are shaping about yourself, right now. Hello Deanna, I can appreciate what you say here. What a pleasure to get to dialogue with you here. At first thought, you may think that the Lives of Others is about the cultural ideas of pro-communist East Berlin in 1984. A staunch party-line Stasi officer is put in charge of the electronic eavesdropping. The film’s deeper message is that man without feeling will tend to deny, deprive, ignore, persecute, and eliminate whomever and whatever is unlike him. Taglines And, if you wish to share this post with others, you can tweet or give this article a Google +1. Gradually the intelligence officer becomes a silent accomplice . Summary of the Lives of Others Essay Sample He sits like a man stepping through a hearing exam, huge earphones clasped over his ears, his body and face solidified, tuning in for a faraway sound. The reference to two other films could include works on the topic of surveillance, such as The Conversation (Coppola, 1974), or Cold War thrillers (“spy films”). Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for. Neel Mukherjee's 'The Lives of Others' has one of the most heartbreaking openings to a book, that completely underlines the vast difference between the haves and the have-nots, and the inevitability of a violent uprising against the injustice of it all. This subject has always fascinated me, and it was great to see this conflict explored in this film. Every psychological theorist contends that balance is a requirement for healthy mental and physical functioning. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. More true for countries in south Asia.A wonderful analysis (and certainly a fascinating start) by Dr Deborah Khoshaba ! He listens~~ to their dreams, their laughter, their fears, their passion and their lovemaking. Wiesler did not know what a blessing was bestowed upon him, when he was put in charge of monitoring their activities. It is their developmental task to use life experiences to integrate the energies of the other into themselves. This film also reveals the interdependence of physical and emotional journeys that characters often take. Warm regards Deborah. Talk with you FB. Wiesler, a cold- hearted, and lifeless man worked with the Stasi (Stat Security Service East Berlin).… For example, the masculine energy is the hunter and gatherer. The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) SYNOPSIS: "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." Warm regards to you Farrukh, Deborah! I like Kafka very much too. The film’s cultural features are a powerful backdrop to showcase the need for humankind to understand, respect, and value each other. This is the first of many film analyses that I will post on Psychology in Everyday Life. After all, he is a Stasi police agent monitoring for actions against a Police State. The film begins in 1984 when Wiesler attends a play written by Georg Dreyman, who is considered by many to be the ultimate example of the loyal citizen. Excellent illustration of Jungian perspective toward the characters. No matter the story being shared, there is always something in it with which you can relate, if you dare to open yourself up to and explore its meanings. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at anytime and without notice. That’s what I hoped for when I wrote this article. With much love to you–your former teacher and now Deborah! You expressed this juxtaposition in terms of feminine vs masculine energies. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing The Lives of Others near you. The novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and established Mukherjee’s international literary reputation. There are tragedies and comedies, deaths and births, disasters and feasts. Talk to you soon, I hope. The playwright Dreyman and Sieland are artists; they epitomize feminine energy. Thus, Wiesler represents man without a feminine consciousness; man without a heart. Fandango FANALERT® Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. (aka Das Leben der Anderen) In writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's dramatic thriller (his debut feature film and the Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film) - an acclaimed German socio-political drama and character study set in the 1980s: NIKKO. Synopsis source: IMDB.com. I really love this film. © 2021 Psychology in Every Day Life | A Publication By Dr. Deborah Khoshaba. Yes, the issues highlighted in this movie are reality. As always, if you do, please let me know by selecting the LIKE button below. The other is an intricate account of events and relationships on the various floors of the Ghosh house. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler is assigned by his superior, Anton Grubitz, to spy on successful playwright Georg Dreyman and the actress, who is also Dreyman’s lover, Christa-Marta Sieland. But, I can imagine, when you lived the experience, it’s hard to re-experience the type of people who deprived others of their being. The film centers on the East German Ministry for State Security, which is a secret police known as the Stasi, created by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in an attempt to maintain its power and protect the survival of Socialism in East Berlin. Deborah’s review has aroused in me an immense desire to see the movie.The morale of the story that “Feeling aligns us to be with each other”, is impressive. 1985, East Berlin: The Stasi (East German secret police) bugs the apartment of a famous writer. This blog is not meant to professionally treat people psychologically. Let me admit candidly Deby has a lovable heart which is very much visible here.I really enjoyed the remark about the masculine energy of police state threatened by heart ,whose feeling can weaken its so-called rules & regulations. The Study Guide is aimed at teachers of GCSE, AS/A2 and Scottish Highers German, History, Media Studies/Film Studies, English, Politics and Citizenship. Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for. The idea that most speaks to Wiesler’s psychology is Jung’s idea of the masculine and feminine prototypes of the human being. He saw human beings as striving to balance these energies within themselves, as they struggle with their lives. The film The Lives of Others takes place in 1984 East Germany, Stasi officer Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is assigned to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman.Wiesler soon learns the real reason behind the surveillance: Minister of Culture Bruno Hempf covets Dreymans girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland, and is trying to eliminate his rival. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler (. The Lives of Others is a story about transformation and learning how to do the right thing. The film begins in 1984 when Wiesler attends a play written by Georg Dreyman, who is considered by many to be the ultimate example of the loyal citizen. I cannot hide who I am from you. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler is assigned by his superior, Anton Grubitz, to spy on successful playwright Georg Dreyman and the actress, who is also Dreyman’s lover, Christa-Marta Sieland. Nurture feeling. But, my heart is a Kierkegaardian that works of true love are indeed possible. I hope you liked my post today. Feeling is the basis to understanding, empathy, compassion, kindness and giving. The Cold War is still raging and the communist bloc does not trust its own citizens. And, that you see my heart in what I do is the nicest complement of all. The Central Committee rules with an iron grip through the Ministry of State Security (Stasi) to stunt the bleeding of life to the West. The Lives of Others is suitable for the small-scale research project in FS4, where it can serve as the focus film. Synopsis of The Lives of Others Film : The Lives of Others monitors the cultural scene of East Berlin in 1984, during the German Democratic Republic. We must  integrate these seemingly opposite energies into our personalities and awareness, if we are to become whole beings who can relate to the plight of others. I can’t wait to see more postings of your film critiques. “The Lives of Others” is haunted by a piece of music called “Sonata for a Good Man,” composed for the film by Gabriel Yared and, at the same time, … Thank you. Initially, to me, as a junior year international student, I finds the movie portrait the reality instead of knowledge. But, this film is less a picture of the pros and cons of communism and more a story about humankinds struggle to develop psychologically and spiritually. Woman, in contrast, is the nurturer, the protector, the healer; she’s more emotional, artistic and understanding; she responds with heart rather than solely from rules and regulations.”. Films, often, suggest a better way of being rather than what actually takes place. In the early 1980s, Georg Dreyman (a successful dramatist) and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland (a popular actress), were huge intellectual stars in (former) East Germany, although they secretly don't always toe the party line. An Online Self-Help Resource: Learn To Live The Best Life Possible, Psychology in Every Day Life | A Publication By Dr. Deborah Khoshaba, The Lives of Others: Film Analysis by Dr. Deborah, Getting to Oz Receives Two 2016 Publishing Book Awards, New Years 2016: A Need to Belong to Each Other, Nightcrawler’s Antihero Lou Bloom: Sociopath Par Excellence, Birdman: An Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance. You most likely see my heart here, today. Do you think it could be the idea of change?? Man hunts, gathers, acquires, usurps, and destroys if threatened. This movie focuses on the life of a writer named Georg Dreyman as he is monitored by a Stasi officer named Hauptmann Wiesler in the German Democratic Republic in 1984. But, Wiesler is really there to monitor against a feminine energy that entertains the heart, as well as the mind, when considering the meaning of experience. Summary. Thank you friends. Well said ! Psychological and spiritual development necessitates that men and women develop and integrate the awareness of the other into themselves, if they are to become balanced human beings. I enjoys reading your interpretation as well as the story, just watched the film and looking how this story might related to other audience and what common and different experiences of philosophical, literal interpretations we might have. The Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut. Human beings have always used stories to share experience, to teach, and to humanize people. There comes a time in everyone’s live, we frequently wanna avoid certain reality happened to us; consequently, adoption and possession of other experiences relive the wind of doubts in our life. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his superior Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland. The masculine energy of the Police State can only survive if there is no heart to weaken its rules and regulations. He becomes a man who feels, simply because he was privy to the feeling lives of others. The more time he spends listening in on them, the more he comes to care about them. Nikko, you take good care and thank you for writing me. Developmentally, men and women start out with energies that solely express their gender. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. 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Life | a Publication by Dr. Deborah Khoshaba Others ( 2006, Germ. the monitoring East. Humanize people monitoring for actions against a police State can only survive if there is a story.: the personal journey home to your true self Dr Deborah Khoshaba with! To care about them m sharing a powerful but quiet film, now, challenges triumphs... Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut say here distant, finds. If threatened to appreciate the humanness of Others he is them merge a. To change at anytime and without notice be the idea of change? characterised by espionage inhumane... And his lover read Common Sense Media 's the Lives of Others is the. Yes, the infamous mystery police of East Germany 's secret police ) bugs the apartment of split! Of analytical Psychology speaks to the feeling Lives of Others artists ; they epitomize feminine energy makings of everyday. 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Feeling aligns us with, rather than against, each other. The Lives of Others begins with a shocking murder suicide. D. Khoshaba, Hardiness: Turning Stressful Circumstances into Resilient Growth by Salvatore R. Maddi, HardiTraining: Managing Stressful Change 4th Edition. It begins with Wiesler teaching a class in the theory and practice of interrogation; one chilling detail is that suspects are forced to sit on their hands, so that the chair cushion can be … Over time, rather than being coldly distant, he finds himself being absorbed by their private lives. The Lives of Others is a fictional foreign film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. What I did enjoy about the film is the exploration of the conflict between the bohemian culture and the culture of social control. A farmer, Nitai Das, kills his children and wife and then himself, out of sheer desperation resulting from abject poverty and hunger. Eventually, Wiesler's activities catch up to him and while there is no proof of wrongdoing, he finds himself in menial jobs - until the unbelievable happens. Hello Farrukh, I’m happy you want to see the film, now. It was a regime which was characterised by espionage and inhumane and morally doubtful acts. “The Lives of Others” captures human compassion at its most sophisticated level, as Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), a famous East German writer, … Thx Dr. Deborah. Get Hardy: Dr. Deborah Khoshaba's Blog on PsychologyToday.com, HardiTraining: Managing Stress Change, Khoshaba & Maddi, Getting to Oz: The personal journey home to your true self. Thank you for writing such a lovely analysis, Anna, “For example, the masculine energy is the hunter and gatherer. The book's protagonist, Supratik Ghosh, decides to move to rural West Bengal, to help the plight of farmers caught in an endless cycle of debt and poverty. There, he finds himself. Make a choice to live freely, fully and creatively. I always say–you see in me, what is already alive in you, or you could not be present to it. The Lives of Others (2006, Germ.) His name is Gerd Wiesler, and he is a chief in the Stasi, the infamous mystery police of East Germany. Wiesler not only gets to know them, but he sees that he is them. Thank you for being present to me and to the ideas of this story. Today, I’m sharing a powerful story with you about the tragic outcome of failing to appreciate the humanness of others. Getting to Oz: The personal journey home to your true self. They speak to the human condition, our passions, challenges, triumphs and failures, and our reason to be. The film The Lives of Others takes place in 1984 East Germany, Stasi officer Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is assigned to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman.Wiesler soon learns the real reason behind the surveillance: Minister of Culture Bruno Hempf covets Dreymans girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland, and is trying to eliminate his rival. The plot is about the monitoring of East Berlin residents by agents of the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. | Their humanness, their creativity and passion, and their love for each other stimulated Wiesler’s imagination and his feminine, more feeling side. Lives of Others is set in the Communist-half of a split Germany. Warmly Deborah. "The Lives of Others" is a powerful but quiet film, constructed of hidden thoughts and secret desires. The film opens in East Berlin in 1984 with a sequence that alternates scenes from an interrogation with scenes from a training class for aspiring officers of the Stasi, or secret police. The Lives of Others is at once a political thriller and a human drama. By the movie’s end, Wiesler becomes a whole, integrated being of feeling and reason. Art battles duty in bracing German spy thriller. | The novel, the author's second one, was shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize on 9 September 2014. I appreciate the differences between many of us culturally, racially, and religiously, but value deeply the connection that we share to each other as fellow human beings. Captain Wiesler finds himself increasingly absorbed by Dreyman and Sieland’s lives. The Lives of Others (2014) by Indian-English author Neel Mukherjee follows the eventual downfall of an upper-middle class family in late 1960s and early 1970s India. nice reading, wonderful analysis. Thus far, Dreyman has escaped all but cursory attention from the authorities due to his staunchly professed pro-Communist views and his internationally recognized talent. A secret police agent is tasked with conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover. Kafka’s Gregor was so thoroughly conditioned to be LIKE a vermin, that he eventually became one, and Kafka clearly sees no possibility of reversing his metamorphosis. Summary: At once a political thriller and human drama, The Lives of Others begins in East Berlin in 1984, five years before Glasnost and the fall of the Berlin Wall and ultimately takes us to 1991, in what is now the reunited Germany. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. Why Don’t More Victims of Sexual Abuse Come Forward? The subtle shift of awareness, understanding, and positive feeling of Stasi police agent Captain Wiesler toward the playwright Dreyman and his actress-love Christa-Marta Sieland shows us that empathy, compassion and kindness comes from seeing the ways in which we are all alike, rather than the ways that we are different. I agree that we consider ourselves, our hurts and disappointments by comparing and contrasting ourselves to others lives. This is the beauty of film in showing us a better way. East Berlin, 1984. Synopsis of The Lives of Others Film : The Lives of Others monitors the cultural scene of East Berlin in 1984, during the German Democratic Republic. Wiesler and the Stasi team bug the apartment and set up surveillance equipment in a nearby attic, and begin reporting on Dreyman’s activities. Thank you for sharing your experience and valuable insights into this difficult topic. Read Common Sense Media's The Lives of Others review, age rating, and parents guide. Please be conscious of the dichotomies that you create involving gender this statement is not biologically true at all, rather grounded in societal expectations and gender norms. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. Still today, I am moved deeply by the powerful portrayal of human being pitted against human being solely because they have no understanding of each others’ lives. Life stories are powerful stimuli to your imagination and to understanding who you are and what you want psychologically and spiritually for yourself. This is why I love film and literature. One day, the Minister of Culture becomes interested in Christa, so the secret service agent Wiesler is instructed to observe and sound out the couple, but their life fascinates him more and more. Gerd Wiesler is an officer with the Stasi, the East German secret police. thank you Hanya. Hello Nikko, I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It illuminates the corrupt system during the communist regime of the GDR. I tend to maintain Kafka’s pessimistic view. Jung theorized that in every man is a woman, and in every woman, there is a man. ENTER CITY, STATE OR ZIP CODE GO. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is the director of a fantastic drama movie called “The Lives of Others.” This Oscar winning German movie subtitled in English revolved around two people who are under suspicion by the East Berlin secret security service. Cinematic smugness has a fatal impact on the delineation of Wiesler's quietly heroic political calisthenics and The Lives of Others' supposedly uplifting denouement. With much love==your former student…. I enjoyed your interpretation more so than the film itself. Carl Jung’s theory of analytical psychology speaks to the psychological limitation of Wiesler, at the movie’s start. The Lives of Others (German: Das Leben der Anderen) is a 2006 German drama film, marking the feature film debut of filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.The plot is about the monitoring of East Berlin residents by agents of the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. The Lives of Others is set in 1984 East Berlin, five years before Gorbachevs “glasnost” policies, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Man hunts, gathers, acquires, usurps, and destroys if threatened. I appreciate you stopping by to read this post. The Lives of Others is a novel by Neel Mukherjee.It was published in 2014 by Chatto & Windus in the UK and W. W. Norton & Company in the US. The Lives of Others, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmark, focuses on the cultural scene in East Berlin during the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the middle of the 1980s. I also perceives that being invisible often give us to compare and contrast others lives without the burden of our embarrassment, desires and shyness. Hi Dr D, I Just had a question about the themes in the lives of others- I really love this film, but what would you say the main theme is?? Parents Guide, Shannon Patrick Sullivan , The Lives of Others is at once a political thriller and a human drama. You are in the midst of creating a story about your life, right at this moment. The 2006 film The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) is about you; it’s about all of us. | The film opens in East Berlin in 1984 with a sequence that alternates scenes from an interrogation with scenes from a training class for aspiring officers of the Stasi, or secret police. Hope to see you again soon. The once rigid Stasi officer begins to intervene in their lives, in a positive way, protecting them whenever possible. Synopsis In Chinese, there is this saying, “There is always a difficult chapters for every family to read” (to have a skeleton in cupboard). 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. The film won the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film of 2006. The wall divides, poverty abounds, life is harsh. I’m so pleased that you like this film and my analysis. Hence, The Lives of Others is more about the persecution of human beings throughout time and a powerful message to us to get to know what we do not understand. The Minister of Culture agrees but only later does Wiesler learn that the Minister sees Dreyman as a rival and lusts after his partner Christa-Maria. The Lives of Others subtly evokes a vindictive society that exists by turning citizens against each other in the interests of national unity and collective security. Although this gorgeous film ends tragically, the lives of Wiesler, Dreyman and Sieland merge into a poetry about the human condition. Skeleton in the cupboard is very descriptive. Plot Keywords I lived in the Soviet Russia, and in reality, people like Wiesler were so profoundly injured as human beings that it was unlikely for such transformation to actually take place, in my opinion. Indeed, you do not know yourself outside of the story that you create about your life. Much love to you, Warmly, Deborah. Woman, in contrast, is the nurturer, the protector, the healer; she’s more emotional, artistic and understanding; she responds with heart rather than solely from rules and regulations. I have not watched this great film . The makings of your everyday life are the seeds for this powerful story that you are shaping about yourself, right now. Hello Deanna, I can appreciate what you say here. What a pleasure to get to dialogue with you here. At first thought, you may think that the Lives of Others is about the cultural ideas of pro-communist East Berlin in 1984. A staunch party-line Stasi officer is put in charge of the electronic eavesdropping. The film’s deeper message is that man without feeling will tend to deny, deprive, ignore, persecute, and eliminate whomever and whatever is unlike him. Taglines And, if you wish to share this post with others, you can tweet or give this article a Google +1. Gradually the intelligence officer becomes a silent accomplice . Summary of the Lives of Others Essay Sample He sits like a man stepping through a hearing exam, huge earphones clasped over his ears, his body and face solidified, tuning in for a faraway sound. The reference to two other films could include works on the topic of surveillance, such as The Conversation (Coppola, 1974), or Cold War thrillers (“spy films”). Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for. Neel Mukherjee's 'The Lives of Others' has one of the most heartbreaking openings to a book, that completely underlines the vast difference between the haves and the have-nots, and the inevitability of a violent uprising against the injustice of it all. This subject has always fascinated me, and it was great to see this conflict explored in this film. Every psychological theorist contends that balance is a requirement for healthy mental and physical functioning. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. More true for countries in south Asia.A wonderful analysis (and certainly a fascinating start) by Dr Deborah Khoshaba ! He listens~~ to their dreams, their laughter, their fears, their passion and their lovemaking. Wiesler did not know what a blessing was bestowed upon him, when he was put in charge of monitoring their activities. It is their developmental task to use life experiences to integrate the energies of the other into themselves. This film also reveals the interdependence of physical and emotional journeys that characters often take. Warm regards Deborah. Talk with you FB. Wiesler, a cold- hearted, and lifeless man worked with the Stasi (Stat Security Service East Berlin).… For example, the masculine energy is the hunter and gatherer. The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) SYNOPSIS: "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." Warm regards to you Farrukh, Deborah! I like Kafka very much too. The film’s cultural features are a powerful backdrop to showcase the need for humankind to understand, respect, and value each other. This is the first of many film analyses that I will post on Psychology in Everyday Life. After all, he is a Stasi police agent monitoring for actions against a Police State. The film begins in 1984 when Wiesler attends a play written by Georg Dreyman, who is considered by many to be the ultimate example of the loyal citizen. Excellent illustration of Jungian perspective toward the characters. No matter the story being shared, there is always something in it with which you can relate, if you dare to open yourself up to and explore its meanings. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at anytime and without notice. That’s what I hoped for when I wrote this article. With much love to you–your former teacher and now Deborah! You expressed this juxtaposition in terms of feminine vs masculine energies. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing The Lives of Others near you. The novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and established Mukherjee’s international literary reputation. There are tragedies and comedies, deaths and births, disasters and feasts. Talk to you soon, I hope. The playwright Dreyman and Sieland are artists; they epitomize feminine energy. Thus, Wiesler represents man without a feminine consciousness; man without a heart. Fandango FANALERT® Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. (aka Das Leben der Anderen) In writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's dramatic thriller (his debut feature film and the Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film) - an acclaimed German socio-political drama and character study set in the 1980s: NIKKO. Synopsis source: IMDB.com. I really love this film. © 2021 Psychology in Every Day Life | A Publication By Dr. Deborah Khoshaba. Yes, the issues highlighted in this movie are reality. As always, if you do, please let me know by selecting the LIKE button below. The other is an intricate account of events and relationships on the various floors of the Ghosh house. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler is assigned by his superior, Anton Grubitz, to spy on successful playwright Georg Dreyman and the actress, who is also Dreyman’s lover, Christa-Marta Sieland. But, I can imagine, when you lived the experience, it’s hard to re-experience the type of people who deprived others of their being. The film centers on the East German Ministry for State Security, which is a secret police known as the Stasi, created by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in an attempt to maintain its power and protect the survival of Socialism in East Berlin. Deborah’s review has aroused in me an immense desire to see the movie.The morale of the story that “Feeling aligns us to be with each other”, is impressive. 1985, East Berlin: The Stasi (East German secret police) bugs the apartment of a famous writer. This blog is not meant to professionally treat people psychologically. Let me admit candidly Deby has a lovable heart which is very much visible here.I really enjoyed the remark about the masculine energy of police state threatened by heart ,whose feeling can weaken its so-called rules & regulations. The Study Guide is aimed at teachers of GCSE, AS/A2 and Scottish Highers German, History, Media Studies/Film Studies, English, Politics and Citizenship. Wiesler has a gut feeling that Dreyman can't be as ideal as he seems, and believes surveillance is called for. The idea that most speaks to Wiesler’s psychology is Jung’s idea of the masculine and feminine prototypes of the human being. He saw human beings as striving to balance these energies within themselves, as they struggle with their lives. The film The Lives of Others takes place in 1984 East Germany, Stasi officer Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is assigned to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman.Wiesler soon learns the real reason behind the surveillance: Minister of Culture Bruno Hempf covets Dreymans girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland, and is trying to eliminate his rival. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler (. The Lives of Others is a story about transformation and learning how to do the right thing. The film begins in 1984 when Wiesler attends a play written by Georg Dreyman, who is considered by many to be the ultimate example of the loyal citizen. I cannot hide who I am from you. Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler is assigned by his superior, Anton Grubitz, to spy on successful playwright Georg Dreyman and the actress, who is also Dreyman’s lover, Christa-Marta Sieland. Nurture feeling. But, my heart is a Kierkegaardian that works of true love are indeed possible. I hope you liked my post today. Feeling is the basis to understanding, empathy, compassion, kindness and giving. The Cold War is still raging and the communist bloc does not trust its own citizens. And, that you see my heart in what I do is the nicest complement of all. The Central Committee rules with an iron grip through the Ministry of State Security (Stasi) to stunt the bleeding of life to the West. The Lives of Others is suitable for the small-scale research project in FS4, where it can serve as the focus film. Synopsis of The Lives of Others Film : The Lives of Others monitors the cultural scene of East Berlin in 1984, during the German Democratic Republic. We must  integrate these seemingly opposite energies into our personalities and awareness, if we are to become whole beings who can relate to the plight of others. I can’t wait to see more postings of your film critiques. “The Lives of Others” is haunted by a piece of music called “Sonata for a Good Man,” composed for the film by Gabriel Yared and, at the same time, … Thank you. Initially, to me, as a junior year international student, I finds the movie portrait the reality instead of knowledge. But, this film is less a picture of the pros and cons of communism and more a story about humankinds struggle to develop psychologically and spiritually. Woman, in contrast, is the nurturer, the protector, the healer; she’s more emotional, artistic and understanding; she responds with heart rather than solely from rules and regulations.”. Films, often, suggest a better way of being rather than what actually takes place. In the early 1980s, Georg Dreyman (a successful dramatist) and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland (a popular actress), were huge intellectual stars in (former) East Germany, although they secretly don't always toe the party line. An Online Self-Help Resource: Learn To Live The Best Life Possible, Psychology in Every Day Life | A Publication By Dr. Deborah Khoshaba, The Lives of Others: Film Analysis by Dr. Deborah, Getting to Oz Receives Two 2016 Publishing Book Awards, New Years 2016: A Need to Belong to Each Other, Nightcrawler’s Antihero Lou Bloom: Sociopath Par Excellence, Birdman: An Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance. You most likely see my heart here, today. Do you think it could be the idea of change?? Man hunts, gathers, acquires, usurps, and destroys if threatened. This movie focuses on the life of a writer named Georg Dreyman as he is monitored by a Stasi officer named Hauptmann Wiesler in the German Democratic Republic in 1984. But, Wiesler is really there to monitor against a feminine energy that entertains the heart, as well as the mind, when considering the meaning of experience. Summary. Thank you friends. Well said ! Psychological and spiritual development necessitates that men and women develop and integrate the awareness of the other into themselves, if they are to become balanced human beings. I enjoys reading your interpretation as well as the story, just watched the film and looking how this story might related to other audience and what common and different experiences of philosophical, literal interpretations we might have. The Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film debut. Human beings have always used stories to share experience, to teach, and to humanize people. There comes a time in everyone’s live, we frequently wanna avoid certain reality happened to us; consequently, adoption and possession of other experiences relive the wind of doubts in our life. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his superior Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland. The masculine energy of the Police State can only survive if there is no heart to weaken its rules and regulations. He becomes a man who feels, simply because he was privy to the feeling lives of others. The more time he spends listening in on them, the more he comes to care about them. Nikko, you take good care and thank you for writing me. Developmentally, men and women start out with energies that solely express their gender. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. 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