![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNbG7tE7SZUyq7z8o6PdAczdoDh7MLXL54OHo_93KefaPbwbhk-d4pFhP3khaajSGecsLIUJmDt0pHvb3QMKnF2-pjTAZJOUUsCMdZy8QLFZ6WUl65nLA0a22d_hXsr5nkNMUWA/s200/lives_of_others.jpg)
Not surprisingly, the Oscar for the best foreign flick went to
Lives of Others, a movie portraying the obsession of the
Stasi, East Germany's secret police, to spy on its own people.
I highly recommend the movie. I especially enjoyed it because I am fascinated by the how the old communist systems tried to control its citizens and how people reacted to the authoritarian state. One of the most successful movies on this topic was Krzysztof Kieslowski's
Przypadek (Blind Chance) which showed three variations of a life depending on how a seemingly banal event took place. In each variation the main character becomes a communist, a member of the opposition, or a passive citizen.
Anyway,
Lives of Others did make me appreciate a little more the hate felt by many towards the proponents and tools of the old systems. Even I can remember my mother being taken in for questioning to the police (milicja) headquarters when my father remained in West Germany after the martial law was declared. And I feel deep disgust towards people who actively supported that awful system.
So, I can almost understand why the Kaczynski brothers are so obsessed with rooting out any remnants of communism from public life. Almost, because this drive to vengeance has hurt a lot of innocent people or those who were simply forced to cooperate. It has prevented the current government from dealing with more pressing issues, such as the flight of young Poles. And the Kaczynskis are bent on creating their own system where loyalty is rewarded above all else. Nothing like the oppression of the old system, but too close for comfort.
As for the Oscars,
The Departed got the best movie. I liked it, but I prefer the
Chinese original.