Rating:

Writer-director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's drama, set in the German Democratic Republic - East Germany - in 1984, five years before the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, provides a fascinating study of how people respond to oppression. In fact, it ranks with Roberto Rossellini's 1945 neo-realist classic ''Open City,” set in Italy during German occupation, in showing how oppression can bring out the best and worst in individuals - courage or cowardice, self-sacrifice or betrayal. But ''The Lives of Others” does so with more complexity.

It deals primarily with three characters: Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muehe), an interrogation and surveillance expert who works for the government's secret police, the Stasi; Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), a renowned, charismatic playwright who, unlike many of his artistic colleagues, has managed to continue his successful career without the government blacklisting him for being subversive; and Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck), a famous actress who is Georg's live-in lover.

When the minister of culture (Thomas Thieme) decides he wants Christa-Maria for himself, Wiesler is ordered to spy on Georg and find a way to discredit him. Wiesler bugs Georg and Christa-Maria's apartment and is drawn into their world of artists who are not allowed to fully express themselves. As the situation plays itself out, he, Georg and Christa-Maria must all choose between following their conscience or playing it safe.

Enhanced by Gabriel Yared and Stephane Moucha's throbbing, suspenseful music (reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann's scores for some of Hitchcock's films) and strong acting (particularly Muehe, as the seemingly stone-cold bureaucrat), it would be a compelling, thoughtful look at human nature even if the story were completely fabricated.

That ''The Lives of Others” - remarkably, the first feature-length film from Henckel von Donnersmarck - is based on circumstances that really existed in the recent past (and, no doubt, still does in parts of the world) makes it all the more chilling and, in its way, inspiring.

Tim Miller is the Times' entertainment editor. He can be reached at 508-862-1140 or tmiller@capecodonline.com

RATING SCALE: Four stars (best) to bomb (worst)
RATING: R (for some sexuality/nudity)
RUNNING TIME: 137 minutes