I love watching films, but there are not many that i enjoy enough to watch over and over again. The Reader proved to be one of them. I first sat down to watch with my mum and a few days later i watched again with my boyfriend. I have since watched it again on my own.

The Reader's main stars are Kate Winslet (who won a well deserved Oscar for her performance), Ralph Fiennes and David Kross. I had not seen David Kross in anything before and his performance was stunning. I shall be looking out for him in other films now.

The film is adapted from the novel of the same name written by Bernhard Schlink. I am often wary of films based on books as it is not many (in my opinion) that live up to the book. However, i don't think it's so with this film.
The story begins in 1950's Germany but develops through to the present day and is told through flashbacks. I did find i had to keep my eye on the screen and remember what year particular scenes were from in order to keep track, but that may just be me!

This film is a love story between Michael and Hanna, two people you wouldn't expect. It is told from the character Michael's perspective and Kross plays him in his younger years, with Fiennes playing the role during his older years. Winslet was able to play the role of both young and old Hanna through the use of prosthetics and they did a fantastic job.

Michael is the 15 year old boy who falls in love with the older Hanna, who has secrets she won't share. These secrets are the other main themes of this film. They bring in to play the Holocaust and the film takes on another angle. As the film goes on, we discover Hanna has committed terrible crimes during the war.

I think this film is beautifully shot, the performances are faultless and it is very thought provoking. I challenge you to watch this film without shedding a tear and be left thinking about the issues it raises for days after. It is not just a love story - it is a film that reminds us of the horrendous things that have happened in our lifetime and importantly, that it can't be forgotten. It's a story about a boy who fell in love with a woman who did things he can't come to terms with and the rest of his life is affected because of it. A story about a boy who never completely moves on from the summer he spent with Hanna when he was just 15.

This film doesn't have a happy ever after ending that you get up from the sofa without thinking any more about. I like that about this film. It is moving, inspiring, intelligent, and just such a genius idea of a storyline. I don't know another film like it.

It's one of those films that SHOULD see. The topics raised aren't exactly ones you chat about over the tea table with the kids, but i think it's a definite must. It's not always 'comfortable' to watch at times, but i still recommend watching it.

Extra details: Run Time 119 minutes and currently priced at £6.98 on Amazon.