| | Reader DVD (1 Customer Review)
| Category | Dramas DVDs, Action/Adventure Movies, Thriller Videos, Romance, War, Based On A Novel, World War II, Love Story, Period Piece, 1960s, Historical, Justice, 1950s, Germany, Law/Lawyers, 20th Century | | Starring | Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz, Anthony Minghella, Matthias Habich, Jeanette Hain, Susanne Lothar | | Director | Stephen Daldry | | Co-Executive Producer | Jason Blum | | Composer | Nico Muhly | | Director of Photography | Roger Deakins, Chris Menges | | Editor | Claire Simpson | | Executive Producer | Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein | | Producer | Sydney Pollack, Anthony Minghella, Redmond Morris, Donna Gigliotti | | Production Designer | Brigitte Broch | | Screenwriter | David Hare | | Source Writer | Bernhard Schlink |
The Reader, set in post-WWII Germany, follows teenager Michael Berg as he engages in a passionate but secretive affair with an older woman named Hanna. Eight years after Hanna's disappearance, Michael is stunned to discover her again as she stands on trial for Nazi war crimes. The Reader is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation and how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another. Director: Stephen Daldry. Stars: Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. Though THE READER may boast the typical pedigree of a Holocaust film--acclaimed actors, a literary source, and an Oscar-baiting end-of-the-year release date--this drama has a significant difference: it focuses on a perpetrator, rather than the victims. Kate Winslet takes on the hefty supporting role of Hanna Schmitz, a woman who has an affair with Michael Berg (German actor David Kross), a 15-year-old boy in 1950s Germany. They spend their brief romance alternately making love and focusing on literature, with Michael reading everything from Chekov to Homer to his lover. Soon, Hanna abruptly disappears, and Michael returns to his normal life. Almost a decade later, Michael is studying law, when he sees Hanna again; she is on trial for her crimes as an S.S. guard during the war. Michael is torn between a desire for justice and his knowledge of a secret that may save Hanna.
THE READER makes full use of hindsight and historical perspective. Based on the bestselling novel by Bernhard Schlink, the story is framed by an older Michael (Ralph Fiennes) who deals with both his personal history and the collective past--and guilt--of the German people. This is a complex film that doesn't give the audience any easy answers; Hanna is undoubtedly guilty of horrific crimes, but she is a multilayered character who is always fascinating and always human, thanks to the terrific performance of Winslet, who plays Hanna over four decades. Director Stephen Daldry earned an Oscar nomination for his work on another literary adaptation, THE HOURS, and he deserves more praise for this polished film.
Reader Reviews: 3.5 stars out of 4 -- "Powerfully acted by Winslet and Kross, with Ralph Fiennes coldly enigmatic as the elder Michael."-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times "Young Kross impresses with his acting ability. He's able to register multiple emotions and thoughts -- some that are complicated, especially during the trial scenes in the film's middle stretch..."-- John P. McCarthy, Box Office 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he performances are outstanding and the subject matter demands respect....Winslet especially brings a great deal to a challenging role..."-- Kim Newman, Empire "Bernhard Schlink's highly regarded novel THE READER receives a graceful, absorbing screen adaptation by director Stephen Daldry, who conveys a technically and morally complicated story with consummate skill and smoothness."Washington Post 3 stars out of 4 -- "[Winslet's] fierce, unerring portrayal goes beyond acting, becoming a provocation that will keep you up nights."-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone "The film is notable for its nice performances, its handsome photography, and its very active music." -- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly 4 stars out of 5 -- "[C]onsidered, articulate, intelligent....Winslet's precise performance is matched every way by Kross, an 18-year-old German actor who manages to convey love, lust and torment with barely a twitch of his fresh, open face."-- Jane Crowther, Total Film
This is the only David Kross video. Reader | List Price | $19.95 (You save $4.96) | | Studio | Genius Productions | | Orig Year | 2008 | | All Time Sales Rank |  13058  | | CD Universe Part number | 7871673 | | Catalog number | 1000397 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Apr 14, 2009 | | Rating | R (MPAA) | | Rating Reason | Rated R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity. | | Running Time | 124 Minutes | | Additional Info | Widescreen; Dubbed; Subtitled | | Movie Details | Color; Widescreen; Dubbed; Subtitled |
Reader Movie Review Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)  Worth seeing
Great film
Fantastic actors
Submitted by fannygosselin (Mons,Belgium) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No incredible,haunting film
The Reader is one of my favorite films of 2008. It is about a young boy named Michael Berg (played by David Kross as a young man and by Ralph Fiennes as an adult) who has an affair with an older woman named Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet,in an extradinary performance). Hanna has Michael read to her and then they make love. This carries on for a while,but one day Hanna dissappears. Eight years later, Michael is in law school and while attending a trial,finds out that Hanna is a former nazi guard,who is on trial for war crimes with several other defendants. The movie becomes a spellbinding study of guilt and love,never veering towards melodramatic or dull. Extremely well directed by Stephen Daldry and beautifully adapted by David hare,but the film belongs to Winslet,whose superb,emotionally riveting performance deserves every award she can get. Highly reccomended.
Submitted by joe (manhattan,ny,usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
This review is for a different format. | Have you seen this movie? |  |
Reader DVD O-Sleeve
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital - English
Subtitles - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Trailers
Making Of: A Masterpiece: The Making of THE READER
Featurette:
1. A Conversation with David Kross & Stephen Daldry, Kate Winslet on the Art of Aging Hanna Schmitz
2. A New Voice: A Look at Composer Nico Muhly
3. Coming to Grips with the Past: Production Design Brigitte Broch
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