OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM AT THE 79TH ACADEMY AWARDSFlorian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s intriguing thriller and moving love story THE LIVES OF OTHERS added to its impressive list of accolades last night when was named Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 79th Academy Awards. LIONSGATE UK will release THE LIVES OF OTHERS on April 13. It has already won three major prizes at last year's European Film Awards in Warsaw – European Film of the Year, Best Screenplay (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck), Best Actor (the top East German actor Ulrich Műhe, previously best known for his theatre work). After phenomenal success at the German box office, where it has taken more than $13 million, it also won seven awards at the German Lola film awards. In addition this weekend, the film scored the Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.THE LIVES OF OTHERS is a precise and gripping snapshot of the omni-present and much feared secret service of communist East Germany, the Stasi. Set in East Berlin before the fall of the Wall, the East German government kept control over its citizens with a ruthless system of control and surveillance run by the all powerful Stasi. When a high-ranking politician cannot keep his eyes off a celebrated stage actress (Martina Gedeck), State Security Captain Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Műhe) is briefed to set up strict surveillance on her boyfriend, the famous theatre director Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch). The loyal Stasi man finds that the surveillance process gives him not just an intimate insight into the couple’s lives but will change his own life irrevocably.
The music was composed by Oscar winner Gabriel Yared ("The Talented Mr. Ripley," "The English Patient") and Stéphane Moucha.The Lives Of Others