The Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck in his feature directorial debut. The narrative centers on covert audio surveillance of East Berlin residents by a senior operative of the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. The film features Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his superior Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, actress Christa-Maria Sieland.