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Significance of the Officer's wife becoming the patient

posted 10 years ago by LyonME
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm trying to figure the significance of the officer's wife. He is the predator for both Andre and Barbara, yet he falls to them when his wife is dying and he needs them, or at least Andre, to ease her pain. Is this why he just says "she won't be coming back" at the apartment and doesn't pursue her? He seemed to give up easily. Perhaps he represents the interdependent relationship of the governors to the governed.
I don't have any brilliant thoughts on this but I can't help but think there's a reason we saw this scene.

[–] junmengo 10 years ago

Is pretty clear that is this what means, he let her get away because Andre cares for her.

[–] LeofricsBeloved 9 years ago

It is touching that the Stasi officer showed some humanity.

transcendcinema.blogspot.com

[–] Errington_92 8 years ago

I don't have any brilliant thoughts on this but I can't help but think there's a reason we saw this scene.

I interpreted this scene as representing how authoritarian forms of Government stun people's humanity. The scene in question shows the Stasi officer having humanity through his sadness for his wife's illness. This along with Barbara's decision to stay in East Germany for Andre reflects how these relationships are the only source of happiness when living under an authoritarian Government, if you are lucky.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6398) 4 years ago

Not necessarily. It might just be that either she successfully escaped and so she's gone or she will be caught, in which case she will be incarcerated. Either way, she won't be coming back.