The Reader (DVD)

Inevitably in certain circles, The Reader is attracting much attention for the fact that Kate Winslet takes her clothes off. So, let's deal with that aspect first and get it out of the way, shall we? Yes, there is nudity; yes, there are sex scenes; and yes, anyone who feels uncomfortable with on-screen nudity will find the first half difficult to watch. For once though, the argument that the nudity and sex are an essential part of the plot is true and the scenes are more tastefully shot than they might have been in the hands of a more prurient director. So, unless you find nudity particularly offensive, there is nothing to overly concern you here. Similarly, ...  Read the complete review

Adolf Hitler never had any children, but he did have nephews and nieces, the children of his half-brother, Alois Hitler Jr. The legacy of their uncle has haunted their lives, hanging over their heritage like a black cloud, something one nephew wryly characterised as "a pain in the ass". Although responsible for none of the crimes associated with their uncle, guilt plagues Hitler's descendents, a grim reality that they must accept. The Reader ("Der Vorleser") centralises this theme, namely how the children and loved ones of a damned generation come to terms with past transgressions, and how their parents' guilt is their guilt. While in the Reader the ...  Read the complete review

The Reader (Der Vorleser) is hardly the first film to be adapted from a best-selling, highly-regarded novel, nor is it especially trailblazing in the leap it makes from its original language into the one in which it graces the screen. What makes the transition challenging, perhaps, is the nature of the story; set in Germany, written by a German, addressing a very German problem, it must have been a daunting project for director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliott, The Hours) to take on. Interestingly, it was at the author's insistence that his story was filmed in English - perhaps in an effort to bring out the film's more universal themes, and to broaden its focus. ...  Read the complete review

In 1950s Germany, young Michael Berg is taken ill one day and is helped home by a woman. On recovering, he seeks out the woman, called Hanna Schmitz, to thank her, and despite their age difference, they embark on an affair. Hanna likes to listen to Michael reading to her. Then one day, Michael goes to Hanna's flat and finds that she is gone, taking her belongings with her, leaving no explanation. Michael later studies to become a lawyer and, spending a lot of time in court, is horrified one day to realise that his former lover is being tried for war crimes - Hanna was a guard in a Jewish concentration camp during the war. Shocked, he does not know how to cope with this ...  Read the complete review

This movie has a complex plot, and if you don't already know what it's about you'll need quite a lengthy intro. In 1995 Berlin, we first meet Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) having a sparse breakfast. An obviously successful man, but one who appears to be in an awkward relationship with a woman, who we see get up and leave, and we know that there is no future to it. This sets the tone of Michael Berg's life, and we learn that his marriage has failed, and he sees himself as a failed father to his now adult daughter. An S-Bahn train rumbles by and we get a flashback to a tram in 1958, from which a young Michael descends and then stops in a doorway to throw up. ...  Read the complete review