Kate Winslet superb in a smartly told drama

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2009)

The Reader is a confident and intricate story dealing with themes of compassion, guilt and reflection. The plot that develops is a reassuringly plausible one, effectively displaying how normal people were capable of extraordinarily heinous acts in extreme circumstances, in this case Hanna's demise as a strict Auschwitz guard who then in turn is unable to develop a conventional life in post war Germany, haunted by her past grievous acts played perfectly by Kate Winslet. Her performance often is the catalyst of the story, the audience and Michael originally desperate to understand her more and she continues to drive the story toward the end of the film in her touching portrayal as a fragile old women. This build up to the climax of the story, with Hanna hanging herself is particularly touching as Hanna teaches herself to read, as the viewer is often confronted with her toddler style handwriting, furthering the feeling of her vulnerability and even alluding to innocence. Although the film is effective in dealing with themes of compassion and guilt, exploring each of the predominant characters morality, the film lacks the sensitivity, or shocking nature when exhibiting the holocaust. In particular a scene, in which the early twenty year old Michael goes to Auschwitz in an attempt to understand more about the crimes committed, features the infamous shot of the shoes stacked up in an enormous pile, as well as the living quarters for the prisoners of the camp. It is probable that this generation has become de-sensitized by these images due to the many references of them in modern culture. The fact remains, that The Reader fails to display the true horror and disturbing nature of the holocaust as films such as the documentary Night and Fog (1955), or even contemporary hits such as Schindler's List (1993) or The Pianist (2002).