The Reader is an intricate and character driven story about a mysterious but passionate love affair between two seemingly unexpected people. The story opens in Berlin, 1995, where the life of Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) seems more and more unfulfilled and empty. He remembers a past experience and relationship most likely responsible . As he does, the story retracts to 1958, where we meet 15 year old Michael Berg (David Kross). Michael is aboard a train but quickly wonders off into a nearby alley where a stranger named Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet), takes him in and cleans him up. The two are sent into a sprawling , life altering love affair that would last for months. Everyday, Michael visits Hanna’s one-roomed flat where they would engage us in a mirage of scenes, artfully and tastefully done, involving passionate love making, insightful conversations, but the most hinder of all, reading. Michael would read to Hanna from classic novels such as The Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Little Dog. Hanna would utterly lose herself in each story, wearing her emotions on her sleeve. However, one day, Hanna mysteriously disappears leaving a young and fragile teenage boy alone and heartbroken.
Fast forward eight years, and Michael has enrolled himself in law school and through the guidance of his instructor, he and his classmates find themselves observing a Nazi War-Crimes tribunal, where Hanna abruptly re-enters his life. Though not in the manner Michael would have hoped, but by her defending herself in front of a panel of judges and a courtroom of her peers. This series of scenes sets us up for a powerful moment of blunt emotional reconnection played out flawlessly and to perfection by David Kross and Kate Winslet. No words spoken, just the human emotions seen in the eyes of Michael and Hanna. Though she never knows that Michael is even watching the trial, their bond is felt and the stronghold it created can not be ignored. As the tribunal comes to an end, Hanna is convicted of crimes she wasn’t, and could not have been responsible for. But because of a secret she wants kept hidden, she is sentenced to life in prison and once again taken from Michael’s life.
Fast forward once again. Back where we started, in 1995, where Michael (Ralph Fiennes) starts to record himself reading aloud from the same exact novels he read to Hanna nearly four decades ago. He sends them the prison Hanna’s held at and when she plays them, the voice immediately transcends and she is back with Michael. Ralph Fiennes takes a virtually ‘nothing’ role and turns it into a truly heartfelt and tormented performance. His character is merely there to deliver closure…an ending. He does much more than that. However, as much as I like Ralph Fiennes as an actor, the rave performances must go out to both David Kross and Kate Winslet. The duo’s on-screen moments, and there are many of them, are nothing short of spectacular and the young and talented David Kross proves that his career will be one to be reckoned with. Kate Winslet’s Hanna Schmitz, might go down as the finest female performance of the year, as she has almost assured herself a spot in the already crowded and competitive Best Supporting Actress race. Not to mention, Best Actress for her said, ‘outstanding’ performance in Revolutionary Road.
Stephen Daldry, as a director, is a very meticulous one at that. Known for his subtle yet potent character development and his small and detailed nuances throughout his films. The Reader resembles and can most notably be compared to Daldry’s other acclaimed film The Hours. Which “oh by the way,” was nominated for nine Academy Awards, three of which The Reader might get as well. Those are Best Picture, Best Director (Stephen Daldry) and Best Adapted Screenplay (David Hare), coincidentally of course. Though it was quite difficult for me to emotionally connect with each character throughout the film, there is no doubt that like a ten ton locomotive, The Reader delivers. Though the story is slow moving, it is steady and will discharge a heavy and powerful blow.
IMDB: 8.0/10
Rottentomatoes: 56 %
MovieWiseGuys: 7.5/10