The Reader (4 out of 5 stars)
A brilliant film, including the brilliant performance from Kate Winslet that saw her win an Oscar for her portrayal of Hannah Schmitz, former SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp, who has an 'affair' with a 15 year old boy years after the end of the Second World War.
Winslet is - in my opinion - the heiress to the title of 'worlds best actress', probably currently held by a certain Meryl Streep, and I honestly think I could watch Winslet peeling potatoes for 2 hours and find it riveting. Her performances never fail to capture the emotional heart of whatever character she plays.
This is a film essentially about German guilt in post-WW2 Germany, and it is split into clearly defined 'acts'. The first act is all about Hannah's 'affair' with 15 year old Michael (played by Ralph Fiennes, with David Kross as the young Michael) and is punctuated with her love of having the young man read to her whenever they meet. She then disappears out of his life, and we move to the second act, which focuses on Michael's studies to become a lawyer, and life-changing attendance at the trial of a group of former Auschwitz prison guards.
This is a film essentially about German guilt in post-WW2 Germany, and it is split into clearly defined 'acts'. The first act is all about Hannah's 'affair' with 15 year old Michael (played by Ralph Fiennes, with David Kross as the young Michael) and is punctuated with her love of having the young man read to her whenever they meet. She then disappears out of his life, and we move to the second act, which focuses on Michael's studies to become a lawyer, and life-changing attendance at the trial of a group of former Auschwitz prison guards.
It is also a film largely about one man's journey to come to terms with both his own country's dark recent history, and his own personal story, and this is highlighted by the frequent references to Homer's Odyssey, a book Michael read to Hannah during their affair.
One of the things I found most thought-provoking about the film, was the importance of books during that era of history, particularly in Germany, where Hitler ultimately limited what people were allowed to read, and also the question of how you yourself would act living under such a regime as The Nazi's. We all know that Hitler ruled with something close to an iron fist, and Germans who didn't comply with the rules of the regime often just 'disappeared'.
This is a superb morality tale from Director Stephen Daldry, one that makes you ask yourself the ever-poignant question that Hannah herself puts to the court...
"What would you have done?"
This is a superb morality tale from Director Stephen Daldry, one that makes you ask yourself the ever-poignant question that Hannah herself puts to the court...
"What would you have done?"
Its a very compelling movie. I am lucky that I saw it. I urge people to watch this movie.
ReplyDeleteThe Reader 2008