The Reader
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"What have we learned (and what might we have forgotten) from history's bloody backwash? Guilt, love, and history are three skeins, woven together to create human beings or, alternately, human monsters. The question of wartime culpability undergirds the May-December romance in postwar Berlin between
… More »"What have we learned (and what might we have forgotten) from history's bloody backwash? Guilt, love, and history are three skeins, woven together to create human beings or, alternately, human monsters. The question of wartime culpability undergirds the May-December romance in postwar Berlin between Hanna, a weary-looking, sexually rapacious streetcar ticket-taker and Michael, a young schoolboy whom she seduces, ravenously and to his great delight. One day, Hanna is gone, with no explanation, and Michael grows into a promising young law student. His class attends a trial, where the new Germany judges the past and, by default, the lovers as well."--Container.
« LessBased on the book "Der Vorleser" by Bernhard Schlink
Originally produced as a motion picture in 2008
Special features : Deleted scenes (42 min.); "The Reader:" Adapting a timeless masterpiece [featurette] (23 min.); A conversation with David Kross & Stephen Daldry [featurette] (10 min.); Kate Winslet on the art of aging Hanna Schmitz [featurette] (13 min.); A new voice: a look at composer Nico Muhly [featurette] (4 min.); Coming to grips with the past: production designer Brigitte Broch [featurette] (8 min.); Theatrical trailer (3 min.)
Michael -- Chance meeting -- Flowers for Hanna -- First encounter -- Lessons in love -- Misunderstanding -- Odyssey -- Cycling holiday -- Sophie and Hanna -- Julia -- Law school -- Trial -- Truth about the guards -- Everyone knew -- Stutthof concentration camp -- No answers -- Piece of information -- Verdict -- Return to reading -- Lady with the little dog -- Reunited -- Hanna's release -- Forgiveness -- End credits
Community Activity
Age
Add Age Suitabilitybdls206 thinks this title is suitable for 17 years and over
cstabix thinks this title is suitable for 12 years and over
Summary
Add a SummaryA fifteen year old boy, Michael, has an affair with an older woman, Hanna, in post WWII Germany. Hanna, lonely and a little troubled, seems to get solace from having Michael read to her. One day, Michael stops by her appartment only to find her gone. Years later, Michael is a law student and attends a Nazi war crime trial where they meet again.
Post-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Berg re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial.
Quotes
Add a QuoteTeacher: "The notion of secrecy is central to Western literature. You may say, the whole idea of character is defined by people holding specific information which for various reasons, sometimes perverse, sometimes noble, they are determined not to disclose."
Michael: I'm not frightened. I'm not frightened of anything. The more I suffer, the more I love. Danger will only increase my love. It will sharpen it, forgive its vice. I will be the only angel you need. You will leave life even more beautiful than you entered it. Heaven will take you back and look at you and say: Only one thing can make a soul complete and that thing is love.
Hanna Schmitz: It doesn't matter what I feel. It doesn't matter what I think. The dead are still dead.
Find it at NYPL
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Comment
Add a CommentThis is a very touching and sad movie. It's very well done. There is some content not meant for younger audiences.
hey kid what are u ? chinese or japanese
Definitely a sad story. Winslet is excellent; David Kross as young Michael Berg and the great Ralph Fiennes as well. I was, like many others, flabbergasted at young Michael's silence in dealing with Hanna's sentencing for a report she couldn't possibly have been responsible for. But I'm also somewhat surprised at the lack of commentary about the ages of the above, and their adult relationship that summer in '58. If I'm not mistaken, Michael was fifteen, and at movie's end we see that Hanna was born in '22, which would've made her 36. I wonder, if the genders were reversed, and the fifteen year old was female, would we be hearing an uproar of "statutory rape!"? Interesting...
This ILLITRATE woman, ashamed of admitting of being illitrate, paid a very heavy price for crimes committed by the NAZI's. Micheal could have testified the woman is illitrate, therefore not responsible for the report of the 300 dead ppeople. This is injustice at it's best. VERY SAD FILM!!!!
Plot : 4 Stars Acting: 5 Stars Predictability: 3 Stars Makes me want to read to ladies: 5 Stars. Have to see a penis: 1 star. Frustration at one characters stubbornness: 5 stars Natural, unfolding in a slow yet steady pace, hooking and dragging you for the ride. Some loose ends but nothing too major. This movie will leave you questioning the system of justice our culture takes for granted. The questions of law being situational, and character judgement not taken in to consideration. Sad yet Happy, Seductive yet innocent. Not recommended for those under the age of 13.
This was an incredible movie, great acting and a wonderful script. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. Good movie for a date night.
although a romantic/drama, ewh...a solid movie/story.
This is by far one of the best movie I've watched. Its entertaining, humorous, and thought provoking. Winslet did an excellent job portraying the complex character of Hanna and David Kross was absolutely convincing as the innocent, sensitive and torn, young Michael Berg. To me, Michael's inaction at the trial was due to multi layer of reasons. He was ashamed of his association with Hanna. He was angry and felt betrayed. Her chosen silence seem to re-affirm her guilt. Most of all, I think there was a part of him especially after visiting Auschwitz that may feel Hanna deserves to pay for her crime. Most people don't take the hardest path even though they know its the right thing to do. Unfortunately, its the real world. To me, his inaction was very realistic. Contrary to many, I don't think this is a sad film. It's very moving and about a serious subject, the Holocaust, but the ending was full of hope. I really like that this movie tells the story of the Holocaust from a different angle, an angle I did not expect. It broadened my perspective on the subject...and makes me pause for a moment to think about this and feel something for someone like Hanna. When a movie can do that, its really something. Highly recommend this movie and can't wait to read the book next.
Great movie, but the themes are for adults. Winslet does an excellent portrayal and the movie is touching.
Great movie. Makes you think Life is complex rarely black and white BUT Go read the BOOK you won't be disappointed (I hope)