Questions From Class About Movie

In class on Friday, after we finished the movie about the Stasi, we were all put into groups and were given six questions to answer about the movie. The questions weren't facts about the movie but more just things that we can respond to regarding the movie. My group members were Ana and Danielle. The questions were as follows:


1.) Why do you believe the East German government felt the need to spy on the authors and play writes What problems did that create for the main characters in the film (Dreyman, Hauser…)?

We thought that the government was concerned that more cultured people who had more oppourtunities to express themselves, would expose negative beliefs about East Germany and the government. Also the government was insecure about itself, therefor they they needed to make sure that people weren't saying bad things about it. They people of the government were afraid that they would be overthrown because they didn't always make the right decisions that everyone in the country believed.

2.) Early in the film, one member of the Stasi refers to the group as the “shield and sword of the communist party.” What do you think this means? Does a government need a “shield and sword of the communist party?


My group thought that the shield stood for the government's defense while the sword is the government's attack weapon. The shield might be the Stasi agents and the surveillance systems that were installed in different people's houses. The sword could be the punishment or the jail that the people would go to if they were caught doing things against the government. SInce the communist party is not favored among all, the leaders of the government felt the need to have a "sword and shield" ready to protect their government.


3.) What rights does the government have to monitor its own people? Do you believe there are situations in which the government has the right to spy on its own citizens?


The government should only have the right to monitor it's people when many lives are in danger, they should not have the right to monitor its people to save themselves. That would not be in the best interest of the people, but the best interest for the government and that is not (or shouldn't be) what government is all about.

4.) Which character is the most ethically/moral? Which character do you feel is

the least ethical/moral? Why? 

My group thought that the least ethical character was Minister Hemf, he completely completely destroyed Christa- Maria's career which lead to her death. If it weren't for him, the Stasi wouldn't have had something against Christa- Maria to try and get out of her where the type writer was hidden. Weisler was probably the most ethical person (towards the end) because after learning about Dreyman's life he realized that these people who disagree with the government aren't bad people, they just have different views on things. Weisler saved Dreyman and his reputation.


5.) In what ways does the Stasi strengthen the East German government? Weaken it?

The Stasi weakens the government because it is not always good in the eyes of the people. The just see that they are not trusted and it gives them more of a reason to rebel and hate the government. The Stasi strengthens the government because it catches all the people that could potentially expose the government's flaws.


6.) Was the East German government an “effective government” ? What do you believe it means to be “an effective government”?


The East German government was effective because as in it arrested and caught people while keeping the government clean and it is a government that does what it wants to get done. But it wasn't effective in the eyes of the people. The government didn't always want that best interest for the people, but for themselves and some could argue that this makes them an ineffective government. So I guess that is was and it wasn't and effective government.