Like a good book that you can't put down

Rating: 7/10 (7 October 2014)

While not the best example of a Holocaust movie, THE READER transcends that by portraying a sensitive and emotionally moving story about a man's relationship with a woman he later finds out was an SS guard. Every aspect of this film was exquisitely put together, from the cinematography to the score, and all of the performances were excellent as well. In particular, Kate Winslet gives a nuanced performance as the former SS guard and Ralph Fiennes is wonderfully understated as Michael Berg (in middle-age), the titular reader. Without giving anything away, the depth of the title's meaning will become apparent about midway through the film. Thematically, it deals with secrecy in relationships and being able to read people. How does a person's past affect perception of them, especially if learned after the fact? Does it change what they mean to us? All of those questions are worth pondering and are dealt with in an interesting way through the lens of the Holocaust. The only issue I took with the film is that towards the end, Michael has a meeting with a survivor who somewhat punishes the audience for feeling any sympathy whatsoever for the woman at the center of the story. Is it right to sympathize with someone who is responsible for horrible things? I'll leave that up for other people to decide. Bottom line, this was a well-produced, finely acted drama that deserved the awards attention that it got.