The Lives of Others (2006) *****

German - English sub-titles

The setting for this movie is East Germany in 1984. The Berlin Wall is still in place and the "Stasi," the secret police, have the most incredible and frightening surveillance network imaginable. The system has co-workers, friends, neighbors, and even family members coerced into spying on each other, reporting activities to the Stasi.

Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler (photo above) is played brilliantly by Ulrich Mhe, an actor from the former East who was himself once under Stasi surveillance. He is assigned to find dirt on playwright Georg Dreyman and undertakes his assignment with icy professionalism. I won't reveal more to mitigate any potential for spoiling. The movie is simply outstanding. My initial reaction is to rate it "five stars." It's totally captivating and convincing, catapulting you into the insanity of East Germany in 1984. Summary: It's flawless.