The Lives of Others poster

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The Lives of Others

2006 · Movie · 137 min

Every rating

Platform pages last read 30 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

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76–96 out of 100

Mostly agreed

Lowest is Criticker on 76, highest is Rotten Tomatoes viewers on 96.

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In 1984 East Berlin, a loyal Stasi officer is assigned to conduct surveillance on a celebrated playwright and his actress lover. He becomes increasingly absorbed by their private lives, and as he listens in, he begins to question the regime's ideology and his own role within it. He finds himself becoming a silent protector of the very people he is supposed to be destroying.

Details

Released
23 March 2006
Country
Germany, France
Language
German
Runtime
137 min
Rated
R
Budget
$2.0M
Box office
$77.7M
Awards
72 wins, 12 nominations

This title elsewhere

Martina Gedeck

Martina Gedeck

Christa-Maria Sieland

Ulrich Mühe

Ulrich Mühe

Gerd Wiesler

Sebastian Koch

Sebastian Koch

Georg Dreyman

Ulrich Tukur

Ulrich Tukur

Anton Grubitz

Thomas Thieme

Thomas Thieme

Bruno Hempf

Hans-Uwe Bauer

Hans-Uwe Bauer

Paul Hauser

Volkmar Kleinert

Volkmar Kleinert

Albert Jerska

Matthias Brenner

Matthias Brenner

Karl Wallner

Awards & nominations

See all 84 →

4 major awards won · 72 wins from 84 nominations across 83 ceremonies

César Awards - Best Foreign Film (Meilleur Film Étranger) 2006 — The Lives of Others ( La Vie des autres ) Winner
Golden Globe - Best Distributor (Miglior Distributore) 2006 — 01 Distribution Winner
Golden Globe - Best European Actor (Miglior Attore Europeo) 2006 — Sebastian Koch Winner
Golden Globe - Best European Film ( Globo d'oro - Miglior Film Europeo) 2006 — The Lives of Others ( Le vite degli altri ) Winner
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film 2006 — The Lives of Others Nominee
ALFS Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year 2006 — The Lives of Others Winner
ALFS Award for Best Screenwriter of the Year 2006 — Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Winner
Audience Award 2006 — The Lives of Others Winner
Show all 84 awards across 83 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.