Review of The Reader (2008) by John B — 07 Jul 2012
Utterly absorbing drama in which lawyer Fiennes reminisces about his coming-of-age with a much older, iliterate woman (Winslet) in 1950s Germany, (spoilers ahead) who comes back into his life some years later when she is tried for war crimes, and then again when he compassionately reaches out to her while she is in prison.
The complexity of the story is handled very well at script level and in the film's direction. The film's transition from a somewhat straightforward coming-of-age drama to a courtroom drama over crimes related to the holocaust no less is surprising, but handled with restraint.
Excellent performances all round, and strong feel for the different time periods this film covers.
This review of The Reader (2008) was written by John B on 07 Jul 2012.
The Reader has generally received positive reviews.
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