Is it really THAT good?

I wouldn't worry about the IMDB rating. 259,000 people gave it a composite rating of 8.5. You don't have to agree with it, but that's a fact.

I'd just wait and watch it again in a few years. And, I'll echo another poster and say you should watch it when you are in an observant and relaxed mood (maybe a "snow day" in January or whatever) and also probably should watch it alone.

I think it would be well worth your attention.

Top Ten lists are always stupid.

(and here it's preposterous to think that you can make credible top ten-list of all non-US films in the world...it would require a voting audience that has seen all non-US films in the world, which is impossible, especially if you take into consideration that most English language speakers don't like films with subtitles...)

You should just take it as an indication that it's a good film and nothing more...

It's a rare example of a film that lives up to the hype. I agree with the comment about watching it when you're alone and in a quiet and relaxed mood.

You keep on reminding me of a darkness only I can see

Bored me to tears. 2 hour movie with zero suspence.

If it bored you to tears pal I wonder what you are doing watching a cerebral movie. Don't you just love the uneducated masses.

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It's one of the more compelling movies you will see. It follows the lives of people who live in a authoritarian state where the rulers manipulate the people via slogans, imagery and fear. It centers on a Stasi officer who is a true believer in Communism but who comes to question his beliefs when he's asked to find evidence of treason on an East German play write, simply because a high party official wants the artist's girlfriend for himself. It's a movie that shows the state-centered system for what it is, where there's no equality and the ruling class just takes what they want from the people, despite their claims of being for the people. The characters are well developed. You feel their desperation as some of their fellow artists are blacklisted by the East German government and many commit suicide. They wonder if they are next and they worry about their other friends. The tender moments between the East German play write and his girlfriend, as they whisper to each other about their hope for a better future and the Stasi officer listens in, are very powerful. The bleakness of Communism is addressed head-on, despite Hollywood's attempts to romanticize it. You should watch. I rank it up there with DOWNFALL as a great foreign film.

It's a daring story that needs to be told!
90% Hollyweird movies are all the same. A regular guy gets in a situation fights a thousand bad guys and therefore automatically gets the prettiest woman of the country. *yaaaaawn*

It's a shame how much DDR injustice got swept under the rug. Honecker was granted Luxury Asyl in Chile, and that's it. The terror which was inflicted on 20 million 'regular dudes' was real life! The movie is grey, dull and depressing as it should!
You don't need to be German to take a good look. Socialist Propaganda is on the rise everywhere... all while Socialist States are pure hell holes! Without an exception!

Last but not least:
Utter remarkable for a young film-makers first project on a 1.5 million budget. Only similar achievement: Blair Witch Project.
And this topic to see the light you have no idea how many obstacles from government.

So if you wanna watch Spiderman or Transformers go ahead and do so. But movies like that are way more satisfying and necessary for real brains! Of course you shall be in the mood for and not on Spaghetti In House Date Night with a new Romance. Romantic Comedies are a thing as well as Political Thrillers/Historic Dramas without a million gun shot chases. Pathetic actually.