
- 104 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
This study offers a fresh approach to the remarkable German film The Lives of Others (2006), known for its compelling representation of a Stasi surveillance officer and the moral and ethical turmoil that results when he begins spying on a playwright and his actress lover. Annie Ring analyses the film's cinematography, mise-en-scène and editing, tracing connections with Hollywood movies such as Casablanca and Hitchcock's Torn Curtain in the film's portrayal of an individual rebelling against a brutal dehumanising regime. Drawing on archival sources, including primary research from the Stasi files themselves, as well as Enlightenment philosophies of art and Brecht's theories on theatre dating from his GDR years, she explores the film's strong but much-disputed claims to historical authenticity. She examines the way the film tracks the world-changing political shift that took place at the end of the Cold War – away from the collective dreams of socialism and towards the dreams of the private individual, arguing that this is what makes it at once widely appealing and fascinatingly problematic. In doing so, she highlights why The Lives of Others is a crucial film for thinking at the horizon between film and recent world history.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Dedication
- Title Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 A Contemporary Classic – and a Conservative One?
- 2 The Authenticity of a Very Hollywood German Melodrama
- 3 Depicting the Stasi’s Surveillance Regime
- 4 The ‘Good’ Spy of East Berlin: Captain Gerd Wiesler
- 5 Brecht and the Politics of an Aesthetic Education
- 6 ‘Sister art is / Coming on stage’: Christa-Maria Sieland
- 7 Success? Georg Dreyman and German Unification
- Notes
- Credits
- Bibliography
- eCopyright