Lives of Others spoiler

Fantastic on so many levels. Impeccable acting.. a true character study.. a "docu-drama" that takes its audience back to East German communism. Some thoughts on the film, some partly influenced by a conversation this morning over coffee and fake philly sticky buns.

1) Why did the Georg thank HGW?
HGW acted as a human and not a Stasi! Simple as that. HGW's actions could have just as easily harmed the playwright as it may have been better to let it be known that the apartment was bugged (by stopping Uncle Frank cross the border). However, the fact that HGW let Uncle Frank cross shows that he viewed those he was spying on as human beings with lives as important as his own.

2) Why did Georg ask for Christa's forgiveness when she was hit by a truck?
Likely for the simple reason that brought her into a mess he created. However, he also thought at this point that she hid the typewriter. Georg's fault was his trust in Christa. He could have hid the typewriter elsewhere immediately after she knew its hiding spot, but he didn't because he didn't want to think that she would betray him.

3) Why did Christa buckle under such little pressure to give away the hiding spot?
She was right to think that she's better off just telling the truth immediately. As was evidenced in the beginning of the film, the Stasi had their ways of discovering the truth. They keep you up for days and monitor your behavior, and they know. Rationally her choice made sense, but it showed great weakness of character that she gave in so quickly. Perhaps she trusted HGW.

What I liked most about the movie other than the acting, was the moral of being true to yourself against all odds especially if the alternative involves harming others.