Re: The Lives of Others - and a MUST SEE film -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 15:17:43 02/07/08 Thu
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Re: The Lives of Others - and a MUST SEE film
In reply to: Betsy Peters 's message, "Lives of Others" on 15:26:48 02/06/08 Wed

For anyone just tuning in, The Lives of Others is a German film that won Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay from the European Film Awards, and several others elsewhere in 2006/7. It�s a must see because it shows the struggle of a country that wants art but is unwilling to grant its citizens the free society necessary for art to thrive.

I definitely see mimesis at work in this film, but I agree, not in the places you mention. I recall that Gerd Weisler (the STASI surveillance officer) starts out as hardcore STASI; the movie opens with him lecturing on how to break down prisoners for information, and he�s regarded as a genius. Nevertheless [SPOILER ALERT] he becomes the hero of freedom and art by the end of the film, because he repeatedly risks his career and life by covering for the playwright Georg Dreyman, on whom he had been spying for the purpose of catching Dreyman at treason.

Mimesis comes in as the instrument of Weisler�s change. Until he witnesses the intense desire that Dreyman and Christa Sieland (an actress and Dreyman�s girlfriend) have for art, Weisler has no such desire. I recall Weisler sneaking in and stealing a yellow-bound novel (or play) that Dreyman had been reading. In one shot Dreyman is searching for the book, and the next shot is of Weisler glued to the book�s pages, utterly enraptured with it. This is becomes part of pattern for Weisler�s gradual change, up to the point of Weisler working against the STASI. It may be tempting to say that Weisler lives vicariously through the desires of the Dreyman and Christa, but that�s not right; he completely appropriates their desires, making them his own.

Thanks, Betsy, I hadn�t thought of that.

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Re: The Lives of Others - and a MUST SEE film -- Cara, 22:21:55 02/08/08 Fri