 According to Pollesch, the director's parents attended a performance and came backstage to say they liked it.After meeting him at the Davos World Economic Forum, Jay Nordlinger, writing for the "National Review", described Donnersmarck as "one of the most impressive people on the planet".The Europe List, a largest survey on European culture, named Donnersmarck's "The Lives of Others" second on a list of the best films in European culture.