The Lives of Others Analysis
Vaynberg, Idelle
English B
February 21, 2011
Personal Revolution
A world without human rights would be disastrous and dangerous for everybody, and additionally, a drastic change for many people. The Lives of Others is a fictional foreign film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. 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. Wiesler begins to change through this operation, called Operation Lazlo, which was the surveillance of Dreyman’s apartment, causing him to grow to become a part of Dreyman and Christa-Maria’s life. Through Operation Lazlo, Wiesler completely invades Dreyman’s privacy, family and home without Dreyman’s knowledge or consent. However, as the films progresses, Wiesler undergoes a personal revolution. The director’s focus on Weisler's personal revolution throughout the film succeeds in advocating for the human right that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, because everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Wiesler’s extreme loyalty and dedication to his job as a Stasi officer allows von Donnersmarck to effectively support the human right. In the introduction of the movie, Wiesler is introduced as a cold, and strong Stasi officer who is blinded by his loyalty to the Communist regime and the Stasi. More specifically, when Wiesler is initially shown, he is leading a class on interogattion and when one of the students speak up against him, he immediately puts a large “X” on the seating chart over the student. By seeing Wiesler in this light and the decisions that he makes, von Donnersmarck is able to cause the audience to experience shock and horror, due to Wiesler’s actions. The audience believes that the characters in the movie are supposed to have more rights. Through Operation Lazlo, Wiesler and
English B
February 21, 2011
Personal Revolution
A world without human rights would be disastrous and dangerous for everybody, and additionally, a drastic change for many people. The Lives of Others is a fictional foreign film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. 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. Wiesler begins to change through this operation, called Operation Lazlo, which was the surveillance of Dreyman’s apartment, causing him to grow to become a part of Dreyman and Christa-Maria’s life. Through Operation Lazlo, Wiesler completely invades Dreyman’s privacy, family and home without Dreyman’s knowledge or consent. However, as the films progresses, Wiesler undergoes a personal revolution. The director’s focus on Weisler's personal revolution throughout the film succeeds in advocating for the human right that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, because everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Wiesler’s extreme loyalty and dedication to his job as a Stasi officer allows von Donnersmarck to effectively support the human right. In the introduction of the movie, Wiesler is introduced as a cold, and strong Stasi officer who is blinded by his loyalty to the Communist regime and the Stasi. More specifically, when Wiesler is initially shown, he is leading a class on interogattion and when one of the students speak up against him, he immediately puts a large “X” on the seating chart over the student. By seeing Wiesler in this light and the decisions that he makes, von Donnersmarck is able to cause the audience to experience shock and horror, due to Wiesler’s actions. The audience believes that the characters in the movie are supposed to have more rights. Through Operation Lazlo, Wiesler and