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THE READER

Starring: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, and Lena Olin

Directed by: Stephen Daldry

Rated R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity

By John Delia

An amazing little film that tugged at my heartstrings, tested my mercy and then challenged my mind has hit the big screen. The movie is called The Reader and with outstanding performances by Kate Winslet and David Kross, an intriguing script, and impeccable direction by Stephen Daldry, it’s a huge winner. If you like dramas that draw you into the lives of others, touch on the evils of war and the consequences thereof, then The Reader measures up.
The film opens in post WWII Germany as teenager Michael Berg (Koss) falls ill on a trolley and is helped by Hanna (Winslet), a stranger twice his age. After resting in her apartment and collecting his composure, Hanna guides the boy home. After several months recovering from scarlet fever, Michael visits Hanna with flowers for her random act of kindness. The two are hastily drawn into a passionate love affair that lasts for months. During that time, Michael reads several romantic novels to Hanna adding to their bond of lust and love. Despite their growing physical relationship, Hanna mysteriously disappears and leaves Michael broken hearted. After 8 years of separation Michael encounters Hanna under the most abhorrent circumstances, which lead him to make a heart-rending decision.
The direction in this film by Daldry bests his previous intriguing film The Hours where he dealt with similar issues like freedom, responsibility and identity. Here he takes us on an odyssey with a young boy as the central figure trying to cope with his first affair with the coming of age. His life becomes a quest for the truth and when he comes face to face with it, he doesn’t seem to know how to handle it. Daldry keeps the storyline moving as he develops his characters and leads you though their ill-fated lives.
Winslet gives the performance of the life as Hanna the shameless woman that feeds the mind and body of Michael with love and lust. Her depiction of the absorbing yet callous lover who has a secret that haunts her is engrossing and realistic. She opens her soul to the role much like Charlize Theron did in the film Monster, never flinching during the awkward moments and rising to the occasion in scenes calling for a sexual or depressing vision.
In his first major lead role Kross stands out as the young man who becomes in lust then in love with a much older women for his first sexual encounter. His performance showing a naive boy who changes into a man is convincing. I especially liked his reactions when Hanna makes her first move on him and later on in the film when a waitress comments that he has a beautiful mother. The astonishing look on his face when he finds out that Hanna has left him and later when he discovers her secret is priceless.
The film is rated R because it contains a lot of graphic nudity and scenes of sexuality so be cautioned if you are deciding to take youngsters to see the film.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The Reader is an excellent compelling film for drama lovers and film buffs. (4.5 of 5 stars)