notorious for all the wrong reasons

Rating: 7/10 (23 March 2014)

At the time of it's release The Reader caused considerable controversy which clouded its qualities. Everyone was upset about nudity and sex, as well as the alleged glorification of the Nazis, yet little has been said about the qualities of the movie. The advantage of writing this review today is that we can take a step back and talk about the movie itself.
In my opinion, The Reader is an exploration of guilt and shame. It addresses the situation in which any of us might think what we should or shouldn't have done. Given the historical context, namely Second World War in Germany, this becomes a potent dilemma to ponder over.
A considerable part of the cast plays SS-personnel and shows them as they were: Ordinary people who made their choices under extraordinary circumstances. Obviously they haven't chosen wisely. But it is worthy mentioning that the victors write the history. Had Germany won, the SS-members would have been the heroes of the fatherland. So their choice was partially a gamble which didn't pay out.
But there is another plot line. The main character in his youth meets a lady and they engage in a sexual relationship. From today's perspective the lady would have been exposed as a child molester. However, after WWII there has been a shortage of men in all countries involved, a fact that helps understand this escapade.
The cast delivers a solid performance. Overall, this is an excellent movie.