I Like to Watch: Voyeurism in Cinema
In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.
East Berlin, 1983: dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler, doubting that a famous playwright remains loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress lover. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and when his boss wants the playwright's lover for himself, Wiesler must determine where his true loyalties lie. Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film (2006). [137 min; thriller; German with English subtitles]
This screening is supported by the IU Institute for European Studies, a Jean Monnet EU Centre of Excellence.
"A powerful but quiet film, constructed of hidden thoughts and secret desires." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"To watch Lives is not just to enjoy a fabulously constructed timepiece; it's to appreciate a deft cautionary tale." — Desson Thomson, Washington Post
"The suspense comes not only from the structure and pacing of the scenes, but also, more deeply, from the sense that even in an oppressive society, individuals are burdened with free will. You never know, from one moment to the next, what course any of the characters will choose." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
