Emotional Tale of Life’s Decisions and Their Consequences

“The Reader” is a tale of morality dealing with life altering choices based on the successful novel by Bernhard Schlink, a German law professor and judge. Published in 1995, the book was a readers selection on Oprah’s Booklist and also reached the top of the New York Times Bestsellers List. It’s a film in which all of the ingredients are perfectly blended to produce a thought provoking and haunting story.

Kate Winslet is the star of the film and her leading role performance is one of the best I’ve seen in the 2008 films that qualify for Oscar. Her character is perfect for the actress as it shows her range and depth. Winslet plays Hanna Schmitz, a 38 year old tram conductor in the year 1958 in Germany. She is portrayed as a quiet loner who lives rather modestly. Hanna meets a school boy, 15 year old Michael (David Kross) as he falls ill near her apartment. She helps him and when he returns three months later offering flowers as a gesture of thanks, she soon offers herself. A passionate, secret affair begins between the two and we also find out that Hanna enjoys being read to as part of the arrangement.

Yes, Michael is supposed to be 15 years old in the film and yes, I had a problem with this unpardonable situation as I totally blame the adult, self centered main character; Hanna. 

(I must tell you that the German actor David Kross was 18 when he filmed all of the nude scenes.) At any rate, I do applaud the director as the consequences of this situation are shown immediately. Michael has major difficulty relating to his high school friends and becomes very secretive and withdrawn from his family. The life-long shameful consequences are played out later in the film as Michael’s character is portrayed by the brilliant actor Ralph Fiennes.

Suddenly and without warning, Hanna abandons her apartment and is nowhere to be found. Michael is devastated and simply carries on with his life until he meets up with her again in 1995 in Berlin, Germany. At this time Michael is a law student whose class is sitting in on a Nazi war crime trial and he discovers that Hanna was a prison guard at the Auschwitz concentration camp. A shocking discovery indeed, as soon Michael has to decide whether to reveal his embarrassing affair with her and another concealed secret that ultimately could grant her a lighter jail sentence.

Life has not been so kind to Michael as well.  He has a broken marriage and a grown daughter that he barely knows. He’s portrayed with an icy temperament and an introverted personality. These characteristics no doubt arose due to the result of the illicit teen experience he had with Hanna. What happens when he meets her again is a scenario of self redemption and healing. As Michael is now an adult and he can make choices that he has control of.

The affair between the two is not the core of this film. At different intervals, it becomes about the shifting of power and what one does with it. The script is incredible as we are shown so many dimensions of these characters. We see their flaws and their humanity.

The Reader is a powerful film and raises questions about our own beliefs. If anything, this film will cause you to think, reflect and discuss. Also, you might possibly desire to read the novel as I’m going to suggest to my book club next month. If anything, see it to witness Kate Winslet at the pinnacle of her career.

Sarah Adamson © 2009