The Lives of Others tells the story of the Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler, played by Ulrich Mühe, and his investigation of the playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin wall. While the trailer tries to make it out to be a tense thriller it is more of a character study than anything else.

At the very heart of the film is the eventual disillusionment of Agent Wiesler. By listening to and watching Dreyman’s life, Wiesler becomes aware of what he is missing out on in his own serious and self disciplined life. Although his moment of change was a little sudden Mühe’s performance - which was a cross between Ben Kingsley and Kevin Spacey - and the film as a whole were able to make up for it.

Fear and paranoia run throughout the film with everyone being a suspect for the Stasi and nobody knowing who to trust. It was hard not to draw parallels with modern day, especially the current USA administration. I found myself wondering what message the director had for us and why he would want to draw parallels with the US? I came to realise though that it was just the media focus on the US that made me draw parallels with it. The message of the film is as relevant to our own society here in Ireland as it is to any other country in the World.

The message of this film made it a surprise winner in the Best Foreign Film category at this year’s Oscars. Surprisingly enough there was no controversy beforehand or afterwards. I believe this was because Pan’s Labyrinth was the favourite and not too many people were familiar with The Lives of Others. Having seen them both I have to agree with the choice the Academy made.

The Lives of Others marks the feature debut for writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It shows us a successful and talented playwright and the love of his life, an equally successful and talented actress. Their happy lives are put at risk by the invasion of the state in their domestic and private affairs. Surely the message to everyone is to be careful about who you give power to. Oh, if only there was an election on?

*The Lives of Others is now showing in The Kino on Washinton Street, Cork.*