In Detail

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck).

Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria and orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.

This film works beautifully, both as a social and psychological drama and as a taut, tightly wired thriller. The final minutes are as brilliantly written and acted as you can ever hope for.

This is a delight to bring back to the Chichester Cinema big screen.