Das Leben der anderen (The lives of others)

YOU ARE BEING WATCHED!

Imagine a stage...and imagine an audience, waiting with bated breath for your next performance. You are still in the silhouette as the other actor finishes his part and then Zoom... the spotlight falls on you... You suddenly realize you'd never rehearsed for your part... You are just walking down the stage and the audience are furiously scripting down your every move... Ever muscle that twitches in your body, every eye lid that flaps.... Are you playing out the script or are your actions creating the script?

Now imagine this, There is no stage.... there is no audience... You are on your own... the stage was merely your life... and the audience was the Big Brother... Watching your every move... And keeping detailed records of what you thought was an otherwise dull and mundane life... From the moment you wake up to the moment your day comes to an end, you're being watched, and at times followed...The big brother knows it all....

Every word that you utter against the state.... It may be a silly joke shared with friends... or a serious intellectual discussion... will be noted down and will shape your future. Your almost certain promotion will be denied because of that one off the cuff remark. Your file will be marked "Uncertain Loyalty to the state". Your so-far perfect life will start falling apart...The Medical college that your son dreamed of, will be denied to him... Your wife will complain of how her former friends are avoiding her... And before you know it.... Life will become un-liveable, absolutely purposeless... Nothing to look forward to.... You'll feel stifled, uncertain....Will you be able to trust anyone? Will you be able to live with your head held high?.... Probably No... What will life be then, if not a colorless deserted landscape, with you in the centre, surrounded by barrenness...

Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of others) is a 2006 German movie that follows the lives of East Germans as they lived under the ever vigilant and watchful eye of the National State Security (Stasi). There was at least 1 Stasi agent for every 6.5 East German citizens and the Stasi lived up to their motto of being the "Schild und Schwert der Partei" (Shield and Sword of the (Communist) Party). The book Stasiland by Anna Funder, explores further and lays bare the daily lives of East Germans as they lived their lives, never trusting anyone and always fearing everyone.

The fate of the denizens in other Communist countries was no different. From across East Europe, to the Soviet Continent, to China, Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba et al, there lay a complex web of espionage directed by the state against its own citizens. Things would fall in place if your political principles matched that of the state. Deviate and suffering was inevitable...

Let me end with an East German joke, that would have caused the downfall of God-knows how many

"Early in the morning, Honecker (General Secretary of the Communist Party) arrives at his office and opens his window. He sees the sun and says: "Good morning, dear Sun!"

The sun replies: "Good morning, dear Erich!"

Honecker works, and then at noon he heads to the window and says: "Good day, dear Sun!"

The sun replies: "Good day, dear Erich!"

In the evening, Erich calls it a day, and heads once more to the window, and says: "Good evening, dear Sun!"

The sun is silent.

Honecker says again: "Good evening, dear Sun! What's the matter?"

The sun replies: "Kiss my arse. I'm in the West now.""