The Lives Of Others (eng-subs) - 2 - Exposing Moral

( english subs : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtdhFe5hy5s )

In this second clip all decency is pealed off as Grubitz plays his sadistic prank on the member of lower rank in the Stasi staff. What makes it really disgusting is the agony of the poor victim guy, a kind of ordinary fellow who just wanted to tell a joke to his friends.

This is the essential of my point. Our judgement of the action (the prank) is based on a moral evaluation of the characters involved. If we would have seen the victim guy doing something cruel in a previous scene we would have a sense of fairness that he now gets punished. Now instead we see Grubitz as worth noting but contempt.

In the end of the clip focus is put on Wiesler. Even though he does not say a word we understand by the expression on his face that he too now despises Grubitz. This way the scene is preparing Wiesler mentally for his later actions.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• scriptwriting
• screenwriting
• lives
• of
• others

[marinersfanfromny]

This scene is brilliant.

[Alankanjo]

Amazing movie. Brilliant Ulrich Muhe... brilliant.

[MastrEcko]

Name? Rank, Department? Haha, brilliant!

[Ekatjam]

what makes this a brilliant scene is that even if you do not understand German, the wide range of expressions allows you to feel the pain, fear and the humor of the actors.

[larsiemannen]

@milovy yes. like a sadist wanting to watch pain, but to smart to be brute - this is pure political sadisism.

[waveali]

Great scene ... Name? lmao

[MrTommypops]

one of my favourite movies!!!!!!!!!!!

[zackhanscom]

a little detail at the end, the disgraced wiesler is relegated to the mail room, and the student from this scene is there as well. presumably, grubitz did report him afterall.

[rudolfvonlvasquez]

One of the best part in Lives of Others.

[SulfurCitizen]

Thus is the Tyranny of the Stasi, KGB, NKVD etc

Everything was ambigious until too late. Its this ambiguity that was the best control, if you dont know where you stand, how can you revolt against it? Who knows if he was serious..

[Wattywatasaurus]

I think that Grubitz WAS joking at that guy, because he very briefly raised his eyebrows at Wiesler before breaking out in laughter. The disapproving look Wiesler gave him was probably because he knew that Grubitz was abusing his rank to make the man squirm. Perhaps Grubitz decided to report the man later on, however.

[pestbeule0815]

(1)@milovy Hi,i think youre false

I think the film will say that in the MfS a lot of intelligent people worked who where'nt thinking about what an evil job thei're been doing.Axel Stiegler didn't work at the MfS to create his career he only wants to have a job where he is lucky.He does'nt care much about what hes doing.