one of our most popular sets of resources; films and background books for sale below

Select from the drop-down menu below to choose which variant of the materials you would like to purchase.

Das Leben der anderen-versions

Online access to files £25.00 GBP Online and CD version £30.00 GBP Online and VLE version (moodle/SCORM) £40.00 GBP

If you would like to purchase through a school invoice, please go to this page.Purchase by email: Simply email me, preferably using your school email address and I will invoice you and set you up.

About the film

Resources have been written with the needs of busy teachers in mind. They are available:

• to download (online version)
• to receive on CD with access to the online version also
• to receive as a VLE version (moodle, firefox etc) with access to the online version also

The paraonoic and despotic world of the former DDR is centrestage in this claustrophobic story of surveillance, love and deception.  When experienced Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler is assigned to spy on the house of prominent playwright Georg Dreyman he little suspects to what extent he is to become involved in the fate of this man and his partner Christa-Maria an ambitious actress.

In a multi-layered story we witness the totalitarian state in operation;  a careless quip or joke to the wrong person can end up in demotion or the loss of one's job.    One of Dreyman's fellow theatre friends can now no longer work and his own partner Christa is being blackmailed by a Stasi chief in order that she can continue to work.

Against this background, Wiesler is dragged into the increasingly tense relationship between Christa and Georg;  his loyalties are tested as things come to a head.

Besides being an extraordinarily rich film to study, Das Leben der anderen is a very interesting way of looking more closely at the DDR as a whole.

• Detailed summary of film with verbs gapped (infinitives given)
• Comprehensive questions on each scene
• Character study guide with wide range of adjectives

• Multi-tense practice tool
• A-factor builds in practice of more complex structures
• Direct-indirect speech exercise encourages reported speech

• Matching quotations to themes to prepare for paragraphing
• Essay planning guide including template
• Essay plan and sample essay

• Examplar scenes analysed
• Scene analysis template

Mark schemes are provided for:

• the gapped summary
• character guide
• multi-tense exercise
• A-factor
• direct-indirect speech exercise
• themes exercise

Answers are NOT given for the questions which are intended to elicit an individual response.

English subtitles

German version (no info on subtitles)