Although most Academy Award-winning films have large turnouts and nationwide openings, many other films go unrecognized or underappreciated. While some winners, like "The Departed," get almost all of the press's attention, many other recipients had only limited nationwide viewings and were not as warmly accepted by the press. For example, the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year went to a relatively unknown film, "The Lives of Others."
Written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, "Lives" is a tour-de-force debut chronicling the relationship between an East German secret service agent and the possibly subversive playwright under his surveillance. At almost every bend in the film, a character must decide his or her fate. They react by doing what they believe to be the right action at the moment and are forced to bare the consequences of their choice. With fear, mistrust and deception running rampant, "Lives" forces the characters to push their limits and holds them there, creating a taut and suspenseful thriller.
Following a strict, almost Orwellian tradition, "Lives" can be seen as the 1984 of this generation. Containing strong political commentary which subtly shows the effects a socialist society can have on a person's mind and their thought process. The strong sense of paranoia in "Lives" makes the viewer wonder who is really in control.
The raw emotions of the characters are handed to the viewer without any regard or care, driving the film forward and never asking for forgiveness. The feelings conveyed in the film are uniquely tangible and completely accurate, making the film more interactive than an amusement park ride.
Exceptionally well written and directed, the script is utilitarian. There is no scene or line of dialogue that is unnecessary for the development of the characters or plot. Every scene shows exactly what the character is feeling and going through while still leaving just enough up to the viewer's mind.
In the fashion of a true socialist government, everything in "Lives" serves a function and is vital to the film as a whole. Everything fits perfectly together in a completely logical parable of society. The only thing unsure at the end of the film is where has Henckle von Donnersmarck been and why aren't there more filmmakers like him?
While every film has ups, it also must have downs. The downside to "Lives" is that it is only 137 minutes. "Lives" keeps up such intensity throughout the whole film that when the credits start to roll, the tenseness snaps and leaves nothing else behind. That final effect coincides perfectly with a central message in Lives: everything eventually changes, though not always for the best.
"The Lives of Others," a German-language film, is currently being optioned by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack to be remade in English, Daily Variety said last Thursday.
"Lives" is a powerhouse film of extraordinary importance and will remain relevant to society for years to come. While some people might be drawn away from it due to subtitles, they are missing one of the most significant films recent years. Lives has become a defining film of this decade: emotional, unrelenting and smart. It deserves every vote it received for its Oscar.
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