The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)

Stand still. Eyes to the floor.

Walk on.

TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTRE MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY

Address him as Captain!

Enter.

Sit down.

Hands under your thighs, palms down.

What do you have to tell us?

I've done nothing.

I know nothing.

You've done nothing, know nothing...

You think we imprison people on a whim?

No...

If you think our humanistic system capable of it, that alone would justify your arrest.

We'd like to jog your memory, prisoner no. 227.

On September 28th, Dieter Pirmasens, your friend and neighbour...

fled to the West.

We believe that he had help.

I know nothing. He didn't even tell me he wanted to leave.

I first heard about it at work.

Please recount what you did on September 28th.

- It's in my statement. - Tell me again.

I was at Treptow Park memorial with my children.

Where I met my old friend Max Kirchner.

We went to his place and listened to music until late.

He has a telephone, you can call him to confirm this.

I can give you the number.

The enemies of our state are arrogant. Remember that.

It takes patience. About 40 hours worth.

STASI COLLEGE, POTSDAM-EICHE

Fast forward...

I want to sleep.

Please, let me sleep!

Hands under your thighs.

Tell me again what you did on September 28th.

Please, just one hour...

just a little... a little sleep.

Tell me again what you did on that day.

Why keep him awake for so long?

It's... inhuman.

An innocent prisoner will become more angry by the hour

due to the injustice suffered, he will shout and rage.

A guilty prisoner becomes more calm and quiet...

Or he cries.

He knows he's there for a reason.

The best way to establish guilt or innocence is non-stop interrogation.

.. school friend Max Kirchner .

We went to his place...

and listened to music until late.

He has a telephone, you can call him to confirm this.

Do you notice anything about his statement?

It's the same as at the start.

Exactly the same. Word for word.

People who tell the truth can re-formulate things, and they do.

A liar has prepared sentences...

which he falls back on when under pressure.

227 is lying.

We have two important indicators

and can increase the intensity.

If you don't give names we'll have to arrest your wife.

Jan and Nadja will be put into state care.

Is that what you want?

Who was the person who helped him flee?

- Gläske... - Again! Speak clearly!

Gläske... Werner Gläske.

Werner...

Gläske.

Quiet!

Quiet!

Listen!

Does anyone know what that is?

It's the odour sample for the dogs.

It must be collected at every interrogation. Never forget it!

Your subjects are enemies of Socialism.

Never forget that!

Goodbye.

That was good, really good.

You remember how we sat there 20 years ago?

They've offered me a professorship.

Life's not about good grades...

though mine weren't that bad, thanks to you.

So what's up?

Why do you always think I'm scheming?

- I wanted to invite you to the theatre. - The theatre?

I heard that Minister Hempf is going.

As head of the Culture Department, I should show my face.

It starts at 7 p. m. We should get going.

The Lives of Others

Minister Hempf at one o'clock.

He used to be in State Security, you know.

He's really cleaned up the theatre scene.

Georg Dreyman, the writer.

An arrogant type, the kind I warn my students about.

But he's loyal.

If they were all like him, I'd be out of a job.

He's our only non-subversive writer who is also read in the West.

He thinks the GDR is the greatest country on earth.

See for yourself.

What's wrong, my child? A new vision?

Speak, Marta!

- Speak! - Your Arthur...

is dead.

Arthur?

Can't you be wrong, just this once?

No, sister. Believe me.

He fell to his death.

Crushed by the mighty wheel.

I see it...

though I'd rather see any other horror.

Why am I not spared these visions?

Elena!

Go home...

and mourn. I'll finish your shift.

Did you like it?

- Dreyman's good, eh? - I'd have him monitored.

Monitored? All that teaching is ruining your instincts.

- I could oversee it myself. - He's clean, I tell you.

Even Hempf likes him. We'd be shooting ourselves in the foot.

I'm going down.

Faces of Love

I hear a lot about your work.

They say culture's in good hands.

Your name is mentioned in Party circles.

We're the Party's "shield and sword".

I'm aware of that at all times.

What do you make of him?

Of Georg Dreyman?

Maybe...

Maybe what?

Maybe he's not as clean as he seems.

Grubitz!

That's why you and I are on top.

Your average Stasi chump would have said,

"One of our best! So loyal!" etc.

But we can see more.

You're heading to the very top.

There's something fishy about him. I can feel it in my gut.

Dreyman's having a party next week.

Some dubious types are going, Hauser and that rabble.

Try to wire the place discreetly by then.

Measures A and B. Only in his rooms.

Nothing conspicuous. He has powerful friends.

No one is to know about this until we've found something.

But if you get something on him

you'll have a good friend in the Central Committee.

You understand what I'm saying?

Have a nice evening, Comrade Minister.

Why is he staring at us?

What's he doing here, anyway?

I think he's got a crush on you.

I can't let the evening pass

without raising a toast to our artists.

A great Socialist, I can't recall who it was, once said,

"Writers are engineers of the soul."

So Georg Dreyman is one of our country's greatest engineers.

- What charming bed-fellows you have. - Paul!

And to Christa-Maria Sieland, the loveliest pearl of the GDR.

Let's raise our glasses to Christa-Maria Sieland.

Three cheers to her.

He doesn't even deserve to address you.

Stay with me!

And now something for the soul...

May I?

- How did you like my speech? - Many thanks.

I liked your play, too.

Really, it was good.

"Engineers of the soul."

- That was a Stalin quote. - Really?

I, too, like to provoke, Mr Hauser.

But unlike you, I know how far I can go.

I'm more like our dear Dreyman.

He knows that the Party needs artists, but that artists need the Party even more.

If you're going to talk politics, I'll find another dance partner.

I'm willing.

Too late!

I follow our theatre with interest.

It used to be theatre people...

- Paul! - It's OK, I've known him for years.

Comrade Schwalber!

You did a good job tonight, too.

Dreyman, I'm glad you're working with such directors.

It wasn't always so.

You're referring to Jerska?

I think you've judged him too harshly.

Sure, he went too far in what he said.

Without a doubt.

But put yourself in his shoes for a moment.

You, as a man of honour.

He can't remove his name from that statement.

He could work for any theatre in the West.

But he wants to stay here.

Because he believes in Socialism and in this country.

His blacklisting is...

Blacklisting?

We don't do that here!

You should choose your words more carefully.

Comrade Hempf, just between us...

My plays are not strong enough to survive Schwalber's direction.

I need Jerska

and I think you judged him too harshly.