Hello all! I sincerely hope you forgive the lack of a video this morning. If you’re one of Sensei Anthony Britton’s fans, don’t worry; the lessons will resume next Monday September 10th and you’ll definitely want to tune in for that one as we add a surprise element to our Essential Self-Defense series!

I figured that after babysitting my six-year-old niece (who never tires) for 34 straight hours this past weekend (thank heavens for her body’s need for sleep!), it would be ok to skip one of my regular features. After dropping her off last night, all I had the energy for was vegging out on the couch and taking in a movie. So I rented The Lives of Others on the way home, and I must tell you all that this is a film worth including in your rentals one day (it’s in German by the way, with subtitles).

The focus is on the state intrusion into the private lives of artists, whose affinity for freedom of expression deemed them a threat to socialist ideals in the twilight of communist era East Germany. That is all I can say without spoiling anything. The subject matter is most definitely not one to consider if you’re looking for a fun and light evening of movie watching, but if you want a thought-provoking and poignant dramatization of actual historical significance, then The Lives of Othersis highly recommended. There are no great action sequences of note and you won’t find the ‘hottest’ actor/actress that will distract you. It’s pure story and it’s told with extraordinary subtlety. You may find the storyline dragging at some points but trust me, it’s worth giving it a chance and watching it to the very last second. Director/Screenwriter Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (quite the mouthful eh) spent five years of his life perfecting this film and you can see it in all its minute details.

Whatever you do, don’t watch this when you’re tired. It really wouldn’t do the film the justice it deserves. I usually don’t trust Oscar winners (*AHEMasgoodasitgets*) but for foreign categories, they generally don’t shoot too far off the mark.

That’s my opinion. Would love to hear yours!