The Reader

Rating: 6/10 (14 June 2009)

From Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours), it was the leading actress I most interesting in watching it for, as she won the three big awards. Basically, set in Germany, after World War II, teenager Michael Berg (David Kross) meets Hanna Schmitz (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Kate Winslet), a stranger twice his age, after she helped him when ill. After getting better, he goes to find her again to thank her, and they quickly begin a passionate, secretive affair. While they make passionate love, Michael discovers Hanna's love for books being read to her, with titles like "Homer's Odyssey" and "The Lady with the Dog". Hanna disappears after being promoted, and Michael is heartbroken, but eight years later he sees her again, while studying law, in the courtroom. Hanna is on trial for being involved with the extermination of many women, Michael could have said something to change it, but she was found guilty and put in prison for life. Now grown up, Michael (Ralph Fiennes) still has thoughts about Hanna, and he begins sending her tapes of him reading books, and he does eventually visit her in prison. In the end, Hanna commits suicide, possibly not ready to face the modern world, and it would have been Michael that would have looked after her. Also starring Downfall's Bruno Ganz as Professor Rohl, Lena Olin as Rose Mather / Ilana Mather, Alexandra Maria Lara as Young Ilana Mather, Linda Bassett as Ms. Brenner, Volker Bruch as Dieter Spenz, Karoline Herfurth as Marthe, Hannah Herzsprung as Julia and Susanne Lothar as Carla Berg. Winslet is a great actress, I obviously enjoyed the moments with her clothes off, but she proves a fantastic talent for dramatic acting. Kross is a great young support, and Fiennes in his small amount of time does well too, I can see reasons why the critics give it only three out of five stars, but it is a very worthwhile film. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Cinematography and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Screenplay. Kate Winslet was number 55 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, she was number 2 on The 50 Greatest British Actresses, and she was number 29 on The World's Greatest Actor. Good!