PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES

"The Lives of Others" (Das Leben der Anderen)
A STORY WELL SERVED

“The Lives of Others” is an impressive film. It’s a story that stays with you as you leave the theatre and continues to resonate throughout the following day. It’s Oscar, for Best Foreign Film, seems entirely appropriate.

The critics are using phrases such as “most accomplished filmmaking” and “a solid cast” and everyone is paying tribute to the power of the story. One reason that the tributes are flowing is that despite this being a very dark story it is also one of hope.

Story and the Actor
On this occasion, what are the connections between the story and the performances? Of course they are legion because it’s always the actors that are the director’s main story telling tools. ULRICH MUEHE who plays Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is the character whose transformation is one of the main instruments of elevating our hope in human nature. ULRICH plays the two major turning points for his character with an elegant simplicity that is utterly convincing. But the main thing that stands out about the overall performances in this film is that they are perfectly functional. Besides those mentioned above there are no outstanding moments of brilliance, rather an on-going high level of competence.

In one early scene a performance choice is made that didn’t create a complex reality for this audience member. (It was a choice that was consistent throughout the scene and therefore quite probably a director’s choice.) And there was one brief moment near the end where a major character decision was unclear. But these minor blemishes are quickly forgotten because of the intriguing tension of the main story. It’s a story that is as relevant today as it would have been in 1984 (the year in which it is set). All the performances serve this potent story extremely well. And that’s one way to win an Oscar – tell a good story well.

“The Lives of Others” is an acting lesson for us all. Story is the first priority. Serve the story believably and the actors’ job is done.

ULRICH MUEHE won the award for 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role' at the German Film Awards and many other ‘Best Actor’ awards, too. Well done, ULRICH.

April 2007

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