Happy 47th Birthday, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck! Born today in 1973 as Florian Maria Georg Christian Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck, this German film director is best known for making three features.
These include for writing and directing the 2006 German thriller/drama film 'Das Leben der Anderen' ('The Lives of Others'),
For the following decade, these included the 2010 American romantic thriller/action film 'The Tourist (starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp), and the three-hour 2018 German/Italian romance/drama film 'Werk ohne Autor,' ('Never Look Away', lit. 'Work Without Author').
For the following decade, these included the 2010 American romantic thriller/action film 'The Tourist (starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp), and the three-hour 2018 German/Italian romance/drama film 'Werk ohne Autor,' ('Never Look Away', lit. 'Work Without Author').
Of these, von Donnersmarck is best known for 'The Lives of Others'.
Set in 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubts that famous playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party.
Set in 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubts that famous playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party.
However, Wiesler later receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck).
During that time, Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria. Regardless, he orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.
During that time, Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria. Regardless, he orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.
Released seventeen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, 'The Lives of Others' marked the end of the East German socialist state.
It was also the first notable drama film about the subject after a series of comedies such as the 1999 German comedy/romance film 'Sonnenallee' (Sun Avenue or Sun Alley) and German film director and writer Wolfgang Becker's 2003 German traigcomedy/drama film 'Good Bye, Lenin!'
This approach of von Donnersmarck's film was widely applauded in Germany, even as some criticized the humanization of Wiesler's character.
Its authenticity was considered praiseworthy given that the director grew up outside of East Germany and was sixteen when the Berlin Wall fell.
Its authenticity was considered praiseworthy given that the director grew up outside of East Germany and was sixteen when the Berlin Wall fell.
The following year, 'The Lives of Other's won the Oscar for Best International Foreign Film. This occurred at the 79th Academy Awards in late February 2007.
Donnersmark has been active from 1996–present.
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