The MovieSite — The Reader

The Reader

How far would you go to protect a secret?

Winslet's Oscar-winning turn hits our screens at last. The film starts off in 1958 when her character begins a sexual affair with a 16 year old boy. One day, she just disappears. Eight years later, he's a law student, and is shocked to discover that his former lover is now on trial as a Nazi prison guard. Her guilty sentence is assured, but he knows something that may affect the severity of her sentence. However he is ashamed of his affair with her, leaving him with a moral dilemma...

122 minutes, No persons under 16 (Sex, Nudity)
Drama, Romance, On the art circuit

Credits

Cast

Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz

Director

Stephen Daldry

Screenplay

David Hare, from the book by Bernhard Schlink

Music

Nico Muhly

Cinematography

Roger Deakins, Chris Menges

Editing

Claire Simpson

Sound formats

Dolby Digital, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound, DTS

Soundtrack

Available

Made in

2008

Produced by

Mirage Enterprises, Neunte Babelsberg Film, The Weinstein Company

SA Distributor

Ster-Kinekor

FPB Report (SA)
Genre	Drama
Language	None
Nudity	Fairly frequent, no-sexual contexts, once scene shows flaccid male genitalia
Sex	Fairly frequent, moderate strength implication
Violence	None
Prejudice	None
Blasphemy	None
Drug abuse	Social alcohol and tobacco
Comments	The themes are mature and unsuitable for younger viewers. An older woman has an affair with a 16 year old boy.
These details are supplied by the FPB. If you have a problem with any of the above, please take it up directly with the FPB. Read the Classification Guidelines.

ScreenIt Report (USA)

Sex / Nudity

Violence

Blood / Gore / Gross

Guns /
Weapons

Profanity

Alcohol / Drugs

Smoking

Disrespectful /
Bad Attitude

Imitative Behaviour

Frightening /
Tense Scenes

Jump Scenes

Tense Family Scenes

Music (Scary/Tense)

Music (Inappropriate)

Topics to talk about

Ratings

Scale (Max)

South African Media

Cape Argus/The StarTheresa Smith The film has its moments, but overall, it feels manipulative.

Die BurgerLaetitia Pople

Cape TimesKenneth Turan

iAfrica.comRebekah Kendal The Reader leaves an imprint on your mind long after the credits have rolled, the lights have gone up and the popcorn has been cleaned off the seats.

The CitizenLeon van Nierop It will be an experience that will linger in your mind.

Sunday TimesBarry Ronge

24.comIvan Sadler The Reader is sometimes uncomfortable viewing, both for its frank look at the deeds and twisted politics of the Holocaust, and the close examination of dysfunctional people. As downbeat as that sounds, it manages to remain entertaining through excellent performances.

International Media

Box Office (USA)John P. McCarthy Despite the controversial relationship and the incendiary nature of the historical issues raised, The Reader feels tepid and overly languid.

Chicago Sunday TimesRoger Ebert I believe the movie may be demonstrating a fact of human nature: Most people, most of the time, all over the world, choose to go along. We vote with the tribe.

Rolling Stone (US)Peter Travers Director Stephen Daldry and playwright David Hare, collaborators on The Hours, have done something profoundly right in bringing Bernhard Schlink's controversial German novel to the screen: They've made it personal.

ScreenIt (USA)C. Fuchs Winslet's stellar performance and the interesting story make The Reader hard to put down or forget.

Metacritic.com38 critics

RottenTomatoes.com174 critics

RottenTomatoes.comTomatometer Despite Kate Winslet's superb portrayal, The Reader suggests an emotionally distant, Oscar-baiting historical drama.

Internet (IMDB)18502 Netizens A Great Read

Average .. 69%

Trailer

Like to receive e-mail notification when we update the site?
Your email address:
Hesitant? see our Privacy Policy. Or see samples.