YMMV / The Lives of Others

• Award Snub: Ulrich Mühe was snubbed as a rare foreign language performer for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
• Funny Moments: The jokes about Erich Honecker, the General Secretary of East Germany, are inherently funny, especially if you're from the East or knowledgeable of life there.
  'Early in the morning, Honecker arrives at his office and opens his window. He sees the sun and says: "Good morning, dear Sun!" The sun replies: "Good morning, dear Erich!" Honecker works, and then at noon he heads to the window and says: "Good day, dear Sun!" The sun replies: "Good day, dear Erich!" In the evening, Erich calls it a day, and heads once more to the window, and says: "Good evening, dear Sun!" The sun is silent. Honecker says again: "Good evening, dear Sun! What's the matter?" The sun replies: "Kiss my arse. I'm in the West now."'
• Hype Backlash:
  • Inevitably got some when it upset the massively popular Pan's Labyrinth for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, getting more attention towards some of its arguable flaws. While the film was always highly praised for its historical and political-thriller elements, some critics were less convinced by the human side of the story, finding some of the the character's motivations and the more emotional/tearjerking scenes contrived and/or unconvincing.
  • In the former Eastern Block countries, it is usually mocked for the whole plot hinging on having a remorseful Stasi agent. Considering not a single one of them ever apologised or even came clear about their job, many viewers ended up disillusioned with such a highly-acclaimed film running entirely on "unrealistic idealism", finding the premise to go way beyond Willing Suspension of Disbelief.
    • According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education however, the plot is not as unrealistic as one might think, as there were some high-ranking GDR communists that did similar rebellions and paid dearly for it.
• Tear Jerker: Many moments, especially Christa-Maria's death. Also, the softspoken ending often has people blubbering.
  Bookstore cashier: Would you like it [the book] giftwrapped?
  Wiesler: No, it's for me.

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