Das Leben der Anderen - Director's Techniques

How do you say "two-shots" in german, and what is achieved by this stylistic technique?

die Zweier-Einstellung - this is a shot in which two people appear, and is often used to show private conversations, secret discussions, or intimate moments

Give two textbook examples of how die Zweier-Einstellung is used in the film

- Hempf and Grubitz at the theatre discussing the bugging of Dreyman's flat

- Hempf and Dreyman in the theatre foyer nach der Wende, when Dreyman finally learns the truth that his flat was bugged by the Stasi

How do you say 'sequence' in german? (as in, the opening sequence of the film shows...) How do you say 'from a low perspective' in german?

- die Sequenz

- die Frosch-Perspektive

What is the first and best example of how die Zweier-Einstellung is used in the film?

The opening Sequenz of the film makes use if the two-shot, as Wiesler conducts the interview with the prisoner. THey sit facing across the desk, bus Wiesler is shown aus einer Frosch-Perspektive to emphasise his position of authority

How is die Zweier-Einstellung used to portray Dreyman and Christa's relationship?

The shot serves to emphasise the closeness of their relationship. A good example is after Jerskas Tod, as Dreyman plays Die Sonate vom guten Menschen, and Christas Haende liegen auf seinen Schultern, indicating how she supports him emotionally

How do you say 'the deep focus shot' and 'the sharp focus' in german?

- "die Schaerfentiefe"

- "der scharfe Fokus"

What is a key scene which utilises both die Zweier-Einstellung and die Schaerfentiefe?

Dreyman is expressing his worries about not being able to write and being alone. He is in the foreground and Christa in the background, thus focusing attention on him at the beginning of the scene. He turns to her and we view the scene from his perspective to see Christa alone in the shot, expressing her desperate views of the political system in the GDR

How is die Zweier-Einstellung used to emphasise contrast in the film?

There is the two-shot view of Hempf and Christa in the car when he tries to molest (belaestigen) her. Das steht im Gegensatz zu der engen Beziehung zwischen Dreyman und Christa, die wir schon durch die Zweier-Einstellung gesehen haben

How do you say 'one-shot' in german? And how is this technique used in the film?

"die Einer-Einstellung" is used typically to focus the attention of the viewer on one individual and their perspective. Often, this conveys a sense of loneliness and isolation, particularly when the Einer-Einstellung is used in contrast to a more lively and sociable scene

How do you say 'close-up shot' and 'panning shot' in german?

"die Nah-Einstellung" and "der Schwenk"

What is the recurrent and most effective occassion in which die Einer-Einstellung is used?

They are used in typical Nau-Einstellungen of Wiesler listening to conversations alone in the attic. In these shots, he normally appears expressionless (ausdruckslos). But in a key scene, as he listens to Dreyman playing the piano, the camera makes einen Schwenk in order to highlight the emotions felt by Wiesler

Give a good example of how die Einer-Einstellung is utilised well to emphasise the loneliness of characters in the scene

When Christa has failed to turn up for her meeting with Hempf and has returned to Dreyman, Hempf is shown alone in the hotel room. The camera pans out (herauszoomen) to emphasise his loneliness

How is die Einer-Einstellung used to emphasise contrast in the film?

As Wiesler returns home to his karge Wohnung, he is shown alone in the shot. He prepares a bsic meal and watches television on his own, contrasting greatly with the love scene (die Liebesszene) of Dreyman and Christa which was seen just beforehand. Evidently, this technique emphasises the personal isolation that Wiesler suffers

How is the 'long-shot' used in the film as a form of die Einer-Einstellung?

A long-shot (die Totale-Einstellung) is one in which a single person is shown at a distance but is still recognisable. Wiesler is shown delivering Flugblaette alone, whilst the town is busy and many cars drive past - yet, he is the only person on the street in the final shot

How do you say 'extreme close-up' in german, and what is achieved by using this technique in the film?

"die Detail-Einstellung" is used in order to intesify emotion and generally highten focus the attention of the viewer on to an expression, action, moment, object

How are Detail-Einstellungen used to engage the viewer with Wiesler's rebellion against the state?

There are Detail-Einstellungen of Wiesler's text on the typewriter: "vermutlich Geschlechtsverkehr". When Dreyman calls the Stasi "Idioten", Wiesler writes "keine weiteren berichtenswerten Vorkommnisse". These shots emphasise the actions that Wiesler is taking to protect Christa and Dreyman

How is die Detail-Einstellung used to heighten tension in the film?

The Schwelle, under which die Schreibmaschine is versteckt, is repeatedly shown through die Detail-Einstellung. During the search through Dreyman's flat, conducted by the Stasi, the Schwelle is actually stepped on (betreten) by the Stasimaenner. Later, as the hiding place is revealed, the Detail-Einstellung heightens the tension in the scene, which is then released when it turns out to be empty

How do you say 'cross-cutting', 'the (camera) cut', and 'the camera cuts to' in german?

- "die Parallelmontage"

- "der Schnitt"

- "die Kamera schneidet auf (+ Akk)"

In which scenes is die Parallelmontage especially important, and how is it used?

Die Parallelmontage is vital in the observation scenes, where Wiesler is shown in the attic listening to the conversations in Dreyman's flat. Der Schnitt auf Wiesler zeigt oft seine Reaktion auf die Diskussionen in Dreymans Wohnung

Give an example of how die Parallelmontage is used to show irony

When Hessenstein arrives and gives die Schreibmaschine to Dreyman, he says "Die Wohnung ist wirklich sicher", sofort schneidet die Kamera direkt auf Wiesler

What is the term used to denote an instance in which the sounds of the upcoming scene begin in the previous scene in order to link the sequence? Give an example of when it is effectively used in the film

"die Tonbruecke" is used when the text of the Spiegel article starts in Dreyman's thoughts during Jerskas funeral scene

How do you say 'voice-over' in german?

das Voice-Over

What key musical device is used to heighten the tension in the scene? Give one example of this

The heart-beat rhythm is heard on several occassions, for example as the Stasi arrive at Dreyman's flat: Der Herzschlagrhythmus kann durch die Musik gehört werden