Prachtvolle!!! That's German for magnificent, and without a doubt, that is the first word that came to our minds after watching the German language film, The Lives of Others tonight. It is magnificent!!! However, prachtvolle looks rather Italian to us, so we'll go with Wundervoll (or wonderful). It is the best movie we've seen, excluding the honest-to-god genius that is everything Harold and Kumar, in a long time.
The Lives of Others is a masterpiece to us because, in a way, it strikes so close to home. If you are over-educated and received a well-rounded liberal arts education, as we did, you are familiar with the term COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, and cognitive dissonance is the theme of this movie.
There are many complex definitions for cognitive dissonance, but it basically boils down to having an internal struggle between two contradictory beliefs. This is always a compelling theme, but in this movie, the character of Wiesler, has the most descriptive, haunting, and realistic case of cinematic cognitive dissonance we've ever seen. At first his emotions towards Christa and Georg is jealousy and obsession, but soon it becomes love and reverence. Enough so, that he places his life and career on the line for a belief in the freedom, that is idealized and symbolized in these two lovers, and proven within Georg's writings.
We often feel that our life is one big Cognitive Dissonance case study, we are chalk-full of contradictions (outward and inward), and tonight was a microcosm of it all...We started off on a date with an attractive 23-year-old we met last weekend. After a warm-up make-out session, sexual conquest was well within our grasp, but after discovering this young lady's lower back tattoo and learing that its significance had something to do with the deplorable Pussy Cat Dolls...we bounced. Then we returned home, began watching the movie, and started the most contradictory late night meal we've ever heard of -- a $20 dollar bottle of French red wine, gummy bears, and French's Original Fried Onions (you know those dried up things that go on the top of casseroles) -- we think we've got a problem.
Anyway, we highly, highly recommend The Lives of Others, no matter what you decide to eat while watching it.
The Lives of Others is a masterpiece to us because, in a way, it strikes so close to home. If you are over-educated and received a well-rounded liberal arts education, as we did, you are familiar with the term COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, and cognitive dissonance is the theme of this movie.
There are many complex definitions for cognitive dissonance, but it basically boils down to having an internal struggle between two contradictory beliefs. This is always a compelling theme, but in this movie, the character of Wiesler, has the most descriptive, haunting, and realistic case of cinematic cognitive dissonance we've ever seen. At first his emotions towards Christa and Georg is jealousy and obsession, but soon it becomes love and reverence. Enough so, that he places his life and career on the line for a belief in the freedom, that is idealized and symbolized in these two lovers, and proven within Georg's writings.
We often feel that our life is one big Cognitive Dissonance case study, we are chalk-full of contradictions (outward and inward), and tonight was a microcosm of it all...We started off on a date with an attractive 23-year-old we met last weekend. After a warm-up make-out session, sexual conquest was well within our grasp, but after discovering this young lady's lower back tattoo and learing that its significance had something to do with the deplorable Pussy Cat Dolls...we bounced. Then we returned home, began watching the movie, and started the most contradictory late night meal we've ever heard of -- a $20 dollar bottle of French red wine, gummy bears, and French's Original Fried Onions (you know those dried up things that go on the top of casseroles) -- we think we've got a problem.
Anyway, we highly, highly recommend The Lives of Others, no matter what you decide to eat while watching it.
1 comment:
that movie is one of my favorites as well. definitely one of the best i've seen in years.
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