The Lives of Others (bc30)
竊聽者 (bc30)
- Released
- 17 Sep 2026
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Certificate
- Category IIB
The verdict
There are not yet enough audience votes to give this a reliable score. It is not currently playing in Hong Kong cinemas. Category IIB · 138 minutes.
What it is about
In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria. When conflict is bound to erupt, between justice, love, and life, which one is the most fragile?
What to expect
A Stasi wiretap job in 1984 East Berlin turns inward when the officer on the headphones starts protecting the playwright and actress he is supposed to destroy. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck keeps the tension coiled in paperwork and quiet glances rather than chases, and Ulrich Mühe makes Wiesler’s slow thaw the whole show. The 138‑minute runtime asks for patience, but the payoff is a moral knot that tightens long after the credits. The movie opens in Hong Kong on 17 September 2026 with a IIB certificate (unsuitable for persons under 16 without parental guidance). It screens in German with traditional Chinese and English subtitles, and is playing at select cinemas — check local listings for times.
Cast
- Ulrich Mühe
- Martina Gedeck
- Sebastian Koch
Crew
- Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Common questions
- How long is the movie?
- 138 minutes, roughly 2 hours and 18 minutes.
- What is the Hong Kong rating?
- IIB — unsuitable for young persons under 16 without parental guidance.
- What languages and subtitles are available?
- The movie is in German, with traditional Chinese and English subtitles.
- Is it suitable for children?
- The IIB rating and the movie’s themes of surveillance and moral compromise mean it is not recommended for young children.