The Reader ***

Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin
Director: Stephen Daldry
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

Michael Berg (Kross) meets Hanna Schmitz (Winslet) in 1958. She finds him near her apartment, coming down with Scarlet Fever. She takes him home to recover, and when he does, he seeks her out to thank her. They begin an affair, combining sex and him reading to her. When she vanishes, Michael does not see her again until 1966, when she goes on trial for being a Nazi and killing 300 Jews at Auschwicz.

“The Reader” is an interesting film that could have been more effective if it was told a bit differently. The non-linear aspect makes the film come across as choppy, and detracts from the overall effect. Winslet and Kross are solid as the leads, bringing believability to both their characters. Winslet is especially excellent, portraying Hanna as both good and evil as the story progresses. Perhaps evil is not the right word though, as her motivations are a bit different than one might expect. This does not make her more likeable, but it does give a glimpse into how many Germans dealt with the everything that happened during World War II. This is an interesting film, but not for everyone.