The Laird Recommends: Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)

Really, a very very (very) good film.

The Lives of Others

Set in the East Germany of 1984, a methodical, perfectionist Stasi agent takes an assignment to detect betrayal on the part of a a True Red, patriotic playwrite. It's suspenseful and heart-wrenching, but also uplifting and (in a very dry way) hilarious.

It's worth noting that it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film this year, even thought the (multi-Oscar-winning) Pan's Labyrinth was also nominated.