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The Reader (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
9 January 2009 (USA)
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Tagline:
How far would you go to protect a secret? more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 13 wins
&
28 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(828 articles)
Winslet Rules Bambi Awards
(From WENN. 27 November 2009, 4:11 AM, PST)
The significance of Nine for Anthony Minghella's legacy
(From The Guardian - Film News. 26 November 2009, 2:00 PM, PST)
(From WENN. 27 November 2009, 4:11 AM, PST)
The significance of Nine for Anthony Minghella's legacy
(From The Guardian - Film News. 26 November 2009, 2:00 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A victim's guilt
more (261 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Ralph Fiennes | ... | Michael Berg | |
| Jeanette Hain | ... | Brigitte | |
| David Kross | ... | Young Michael Berg | |
| Kate Winslet | ... | Hanna Schmitz | |
| Susanne Lothar | ... | Carla Berg | |
| Alissa Wilms | ... | Emily Berg | |
| Florian Bartholomäi | ... | Thomas Berg | |
| Friederike Becht | ... | Angela Berg | |
| Matthias Habich | ... | Peter Berg | |
| Frieder Venus | ... | Doctor | |
| Marie-Anne Fliegel | ... | Hanna's Neighbor | |
| Hendrik Arnst | ... | Woodyard Worker | |
| Rainer Sellien | ... | Teacher | |
| Torsten Michaelis | ... | Sports Master | |
| Moritz Grove | ... | Holger |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Der Vorleser (Germany)
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MPAA:
Rated R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #44922) |
UK:15 |
Ireland:16 |
Singapore:R21 |
Australia:MA |
Finland:K-15 |
South Korea:18 |
Brazil:16 |
Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) |
Netherlands:12 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Philippines:R-18 (MTRCB) |
Spain:13 |
Germany:12 |
Canada:14A (Ontario) |
Mexico:B15 |
Japan:PG-12 |
Sweden:Btl |
Hong Kong:III |
Denmark:11 |
Austria:12 |
Argentina:16 |
Iceland:14 |
Iceland:12 (DVD rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Hendrik Maaß, who plays Michael's court house assistant (uncredited role), had been vocationally trained as a paralegal in real life for some time.
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Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Hanna teaches herself to read and write though library books. Yet, her handwriting is in the style of "penmanship" handwriting, for certain letters, not as they are written in books. The main example of this is the lowercase "a" - she writes it the way most people write it, not as it is printed in books, which is how she would have learned it. However, in the movie when Hanna first begins to learn to write while reading "The Lady with the Little Dog", it is shown that the lowercase "a" in her copy of the book is not printed in "penmanship" font, i.e. printed in a font much like the way most people write (such as Arial).
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Quotes:
Professor Rohl:
You have been skipping seminars.
Michael: I have a piece of information, concerning one of the defendants. Something they do not admitting.
Professor Rohl: What information? You don't need to tell me. It's perfectly clear you have a moral obligation to disclose it to the court.
Michael: It happens this information is favorable to the defendant. It can help her case. It may even affect the outcome, certainly the sentencing.
Professor Rohl: So?
Michael: There's a problem. The defendant herself is determined to keep this information secret.
Professor Rohl: What are her reasons?
Michael: Because she's ashamed.
Professor Rohl: Ashamed of what? Have you spoken to her?
Michael: Of course not.
[...]
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Michael: I have a piece of information, concerning one of the defendants. Something they do not admitting.
Professor Rohl: What information? You don't need to tell me. It's perfectly clear you have a moral obligation to disclose it to the court.
Michael: It happens this information is favorable to the defendant. It can help her case. It may even affect the outcome, certainly the sentencing.
Professor Rohl: So?
Michael: There's a problem. The defendant herself is determined to keep this information secret.
Professor Rohl: What are her reasons?
Michael: Because she's ashamed.
Professor Rohl: Ashamed of what? Have you spoken to her?
Michael: Of course not.
[...]
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Movie Connections:
Featured in 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Musik liegt in der Luft
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FAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?Is "The Reader" based on a book?
Is there an official website?
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more (261 total)
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The film is a series of profound moral dilemmaswhile contrived by the author, they are fair questionsthat resonate deeply in the 21st Century: The role of guilt in victims, perpetrators, individuals and collectively, as well as justice, forgiveness, redemption, shame and, of course, literacy and its role in Western thought.
All this is a pretty heady mix for a film, but Stephen Daldry (as with "The Hours" ) makes literary conceit play very naturally here. David Hare's screenplay and the remarkable cinematography of the always remarkable Roger Deakins together with a sensitive score by Nico Muhly, this is indeed rarefied film-making.
But the actors are what drag the audience into this story. David Kross is amazing as the young Michael who has to play a range of virginal innocent to wizened and bitter. It's the key role in the film, and we're all lucky he was found to play this role. And the ever confounding Kate Winslet. What an amazing career for this young actress! Running through a list of her credits, she has some of the best performances of the last decade: "Holy Smoke," "Eternal Sunshine ," "Iris," "Finding Neverland," "Little Children." But here she does something very different. Playing what amounts to a monster, we see that they too are human. Not many actresses could bring this off, but it may be her greatest accomplishment to date.
Ralph Fiennes brings a continuity to the work David Kross begins, and there's a brief appearance by Lena Olin who commands the dignity the role deserves.
I'm puzzled at the lukewarm reception to this film. I almost missed seeing it. And it turned out to be one of my favorite and the most heart-rending films of the year. All involved should be very proud.