Review of The Reader (2008) by Trevor H — 05 Nov 2012

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. For me, this is not a movie that seeks to examine the rights and wrongs of 'justice' for the war crimes of the holocaust. Instead, it's a love story, encouraging us to explore what sacrifices we are prepared to make in the name of love and loyalty.

The romance between Schmitz and Berg is beautifully and sensitively shot by Daldry, challenging us to think of Schmitz's motives towards Berg in the initial part of their relationship. Did she seek to manipulate him from the beginning, or did she simply fall in love with a boy? The performances of Winslet and Fiennes are superb, in later years their relationship is littered with doubt, mistrust, confusion.

Highly recommended.