A companion piece to Black Book only for the significant contribution of Sebastian Koch as Georg Dreyman. But Ulrich Mühe takes the film and its heart. In a way Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is a poor man's Oskar Schindler but in this case - he is a champion of the arts first.
The production values on the film are first rate (filmed in David Fincher greens ala Zodiac) and the palpable fear of 1980s East Germany is brilliantly portrayed. Back to Black Book. The story concerns the totalitarian state in its last phase just as in Black Book's Nazi Holland.
The story of Surveillance harkens back to The Conversation in the way it affects the lives of those on both sides of the table. Earlier this week 'name the plot game' had this as the answer but could have very well been The Conversation.
The only weakness in the film is the pat way Wiesler is dismissed at the end.
Really enjoyed this film and Ulrich Mühe's performance is fantastic.
The Conversation (1974)