"Lives of Others" = "Equilibrium"

[ihsan]

Hello... I think the writer/director of the film "Lives of Others" (original German title "Das Leben der Anderen" 2006) has been a tiny bit more than "influenced" by Equilibrium... check out the film, see if I'm wrong. It is excellent though, and won various awards, including an Oscar.

There's various common threads (which appear more than coincidental)... a staunch enforcer - a "knight" - of a dystopic system is influenced by the death of a "friend" which triggers doubts in his mind and causes his behaviour to change, going against the dictatorship... A book of poetry goes missing... Beethoven is a key musical subject... There are 3 main characters - one of which is a woman who plays a part in causing our knight to "turn"... Anything sound familiar?

[clericjay]

I've seen "Das Leben der Anderen" when it came out in Germany long time ago in the cinema. From my point of view it is a very good movie and truly worth watching. ;D
A lot of aspects shown in the film are facts, espeacially how the "Stasi" ("Staatssicherheit"=safety of the state=the secret service of the former GDR) worked and which methods they used.
My family for example also lived under a special surveillance, because no one of my family was member of the leading party SED ("Soziealistische Einheitspartei Deutschland"=Socialist Unity Party of Germany) and therefor potential enemies of the state.
I've heared about some strange stories, which happened to my family, but they did not knew all that, when the GDR still existed.

But the story of the film is completely fictional and I think that Florian Henckel von Donnersmark (director, very popular in Germany now after winning the Oscar) might have watched Equilibrium once and it could have influenced him.
But nethertheless the film is very authentic in most aspects.

[Aedh]

Yes ... I concur with Mira on this. Don't forget, also, an important visual point ... both using Berlin for location shots.

By the way, welcome to the community, Cleric ihsan.

[ihsan]

Aug 14, 2008 23:01:18 GMT -5 Aedh said:

Yes ... I concur with Mira on this. Don't forget, also, an important visual point ... both using Berlin for location shots.

By the way, welcome to the community, Cleric ihsan.

Thanks Aedh. I think that was my first post, though I have been here before (I did some Equilibrium-inspired artwork, which this site was linking to). Yes you're right, they also have in common the fact they've both used Berlin for locations.

I was there a couple of months ago, surveying the changes in buildings compared to GDR times, and it's amazing how much has gone, or been given a facelift, to vanquish traces of the past - which in some cases is really a shame (the story behind the deconstruction of the Palast der Republik is in some ways extremely ridiculous). Also, the historic book shop on Karl-Marx-Allee (the "Karl Marx Buchhandlung"), which appears in the key scene at the end of the Lives of Others, unfortunately appears to have closed down. In general, Berlin is undergoing massive "regeneration", some of it impressive, some not so good I think.

There's general recognition that The Lives of Others is the most authentic movie depiction of GDR life and times, where quite a large proportion of the population was under surveillance and, as Clericjay says, once the wall came down (cue The Hoff?!!) they could go and see their own surveillance records, even finding out the names of some of the "agents" spying on them.

Lives of Others is truly a great film, my only problem is (OK I'm biased!) I can't watch it without thinking it was inspired by Equilibrium. It's almost as if the director/writer saw it and thought, "hey this reminds of the GDR - what if it was...?" and then set about writing his script.

I've heard ridiculously absurd rumours that the rights have been bought to make a Hollywood remake!!! I hope it never happens, it would be an insult, and it's perfect as it is - though I think Florian will be rubbing his hands in anticipation.

It's good that it got the awards and recognition it deserves (maybe there should be a special award for Equilibrium for "Best Film to inspire another film"!), though at least Wimmer appears to have gone on to catch a HUGE fish ("Metal Gear Solid").

Thanks for reading.

Ihsan

[Aedh]

Aug 15, 2008 8:43:51 GMT -5 ihsan said:

ridiculously absurd rumours that the rights have been bought to make a Hollywood remake!!! I hope it never happens, it would be an insult, and it's perfect as it is - though I think Florian will be rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Well you can't blame him ... would stand to make a ton of money. Money which, I'm sure, would go back into worthwhile projects. I suppose it would be too much to ask for HIM to do an EQ sequel/prequel??

This is all just proof--if any more were needed--that Hollywood is run by a bunch of apes.

Anything they can't jeer at, copulate with, or eat, they take apart and bang to pieces. And if something comes along from outside the cage, they scream at it and fling poop.

[clericjay]

Aug 15, 2008 8:43:51 GMT -5 ihsan said:

I was there a couple of months ago, surveying the changes in buildings compared to GDR times, and it's amazing how much has gone, or been given a facelift, to vanquish traces of the past - which in some cases is really a shame (the story behind the deconstruction of the Palast der Republik is in some ways extremely ridiculous). Also, the historic book shop on Karl-Marx-Allee (the "Karl Marx Buchhandlung"), which appears in the key scene at the end of the Lives of Others, unfortunately appears to have closed down. In general, Berlin is undergoing massive "regeneration", some of it impressive, some not so good I think.

What? The "Karl-Marx-Buchhandlung" is closed? I've been there about 6 months ago and it seemed to work pretty well.
But what you describe is normal reality here in East-Germany and I think that in some years all traces of the former GDR will disappear.
I personally like the idea of rebuilding the "Berliner Stadtschloss" instead of the "Palast der Republik", though the second one is an undeniable part of the German history.

[kingofsorrow]

ihsan thanks for opening my eyes to this movie. i'm gonna hunt it down and watch it. the preview really intrigued me.

[masha]

Yes!!! I saw Equilibrium, then Lives of Others within a week, and I noticed some incredible similarities. I thought it was all in my head because I've been thinking about Equilibrium so much. The scene where Weisler (sp.?) goes through the house is SO similar to Preston's scene at Mary's forbidden sanctuary. In fact, a lot of people have trouble understanding Weisler's motivation in Lives of Others, but to me it was entirely clear after I saw Equilibrium because the characters are essentially very similar even if the environment isn't.

[Mirabilis]

Jan 3, 2009 21:57:13 GMT -5 masha said:

Yes!!! I saw Equilibrium, then Lives of Others within a week, and I noticed some incredible similarities. I thought it was all in my head because I've been thinking about Equilibrium so much. The scene where Weisler (sp.?) goes through the house is SO similar to Preston's scene at Mary's forbidden sanctuary. In fact, a lot of people have trouble understanding Weisler's motivation in Lives of Others, but to me it was entirely clear after I saw Equilibrium because the characters are essentially very similar even if the environment isn't.

Yes...you are so right! And welcome to the boards masha...always good to have new enthusiasm for EQ and the whole dystopian topic.

[masha]

Thanks for the welcome. This is a great board and I'm glad to know there are so many others who appreciate this movie. And not just because Christian Bale is so hot, but for intellectual reasons.

I love dystopias, but it's not that easy to find a really good, original stuff that is not tied into current events. When I read the description for EQ, I thought, what a great premise, but it will probably get messed up in execution. Boy was I ever wrong.