This article reads von Donnersmarck’s film $Das\; Leben\; der\; Anderen$ in the light of Kafka’s story $Die\; Verwandlung$, suggesting that the works bear a striking and as yet unnoticed similarity on the level of story, while diverging significantly in terms of $plot$. The aim of the comparison is to explore notable aspects of this similarity through the presentations of $space,\; sensual\; experience$, and $spectator\; complicity$, while raising wider points about the functions and capabilities of $different\; media$. I propose the concept of $erlebtes\; Zeigen$ in my reading of Das Leben der Anderen as a contrast to Kafka’s use of $erlebte\; Rede$. I question just how it is that such a similar story may be told to such different effect.