The Reader

The Reader opens views to the world of secret, love, punishment and morality. Damn serious stuff to be watching on a slow Saturday afternoon.

An ill young Michael Berg meets Hanna Schmitz who helps him return home. He is a 15 years old teenager while she is a 36 years old tram conductress. After he recovers from his scarlet fever, he goes to Hanna's apartment to thank her for helping him out. He find himself attracted to Hanna and allows her to seduce him. Soon, the little dangerous liaison turns into a passionate affair with a lingering lifelong effect on both of them.

When the summer is over, Hanna left abruptly. Leaving Michael bewildered and guilty. Years later, by a chance encounter of a Nazi's trial during Michael's understudy as a law student, he meets Hanna who is being trialed for killing 300 Jewish woman. Michael faces conflict with his love for Hanna, and discovers her deep secret which she rather dies than reveal in court. Yet he is also ashamed of what has happened in the Auschwitz extermination camp and his acquaintance with her.

Through his years, Michael never forgets about Hanna. When he returns home with his daughter after his failed marriage, he started to record tapes of him reading books which Hanna loves a lot. But never did he visit or write or speak to her till the day when Hanna is due to be released from prison.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fairy clouds. The movie runs deep with many underlying issues which are hard to portrayed on the big screen. I suspect it is more intense reading the book than watching the movie. Still with a little touch of imagination and understanding of the culture then, The Reader has done a good job on highlighting morality issues. Though we all like to simplify our lives, at times it is not just so easy. If only we can do away with our pride, moral obligation and abiding social norms.