A film drama about the Stasi secret police has won seven of Germany's top film awards.

Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) took honours including best film, director and actor at the Lolas ceremony.

The movie addresses the emotive topic of the secret police who mercilessly kept citizens in line until the fall of the Berlin Wall. It has reportedly provoked a wave of discussion and argument in Germany.

Ulrich Muehe, who won best actor, said the film was an important milestone. He explained: "It took a few years before anyone found a clever way to bring into focus a system that kept 17 million people locked up and under suppression.

"I was hoping this film would touch a nerve while we were working on it but you never really know how people will react."