Quality story about what might be becoming a forgotten era in Germany. The story, performances, and remarkably authentic sets are important documentation for this period of Germany’s history.
Mühe was completely engaging as the cold, calculating Wiesler, reminding me a bit of Brían F. O’Byrne in The International. His Oscar-worthy performance really draws you in, his transformation was magical. Dramatically, I would have liked to learn a bit more about why he is alone. Surely, not every Stasi was alone.
Sadly, Mühe died shortly after making this film, but I was happy to discover that he was quite celebrated in Germany and won several awards for this.
I liked the last scene, but not the freeze-frame at the end. It’s a bit cheesy and pulls you out of story, just when you have completely given yourself to it.
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