The Reader

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 10, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 14, 2009

Plot 411: A teen's brief affair with an older woman has serious repercussions throughout his life.

Review: Young Michael (David Kross) falls in love with an older woman and has a summer affair during which he falls in love with Hanna (Kate Winslet). She leaves him abruptly and he's heartbroken. Years later, as a law student, Michael sits in on a trial about Nazi war crimes and discovers that Hanna took part in the slaughter of many Jews. The disparity between the woman he knew and the one who took part in these crimes against humanity tears him apart inside. As an adult, Michael (Ralph Fiennes) records himself reading various books and sends them to Hanna. He suffers in a quiet battle with himself because he doesn't know whether he should love her for her previous actions or hate her for her more recent ones. This juxtaposition he feels between emotion and logic is also clouded by the fact that he was young and in the throes of his first love affair. Her impact on him, even before he knew of her Nazi involvement, is deep and he has issues with expressing himself to people, commitment and love in general. The movie leaves you feeling uncomfortable and also questioning what you'd do if you were in Michael's shoes. I felt a bit sorry for Hanna despite her participation in something so horrible. I think a lot of people who lived during that time could relate to her predicament. The aging process that Winslet endured for this role was pretty authentic looking. I thought Kross did a great job in the beginning part of the film, especially for being a relatively new actor and having to be naked in a bunch of scenes.

Watch It: For a movie that'll leave you questioning yourself and your beliefs and a little uncomfortable.

Skip It: If you aren't into the artsy nude scenes or the age difference between Winslet and Kross creeps you out. Their love is actually quite moving, especially from his point of view. However, there was a lot of nakedness (but done in a classy way mind you).