Dir: Stephen Daldry. Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes.
Review: There is a very good reason why Kate Winslet won an Oscar this year for her role as Hanna Schmitz, a sullen, solitary woman with a dark past. In The Reader
Winslet gives one of those raw, running-the-gauntlet performances that many an actress would think twice about stepping into. Not only is Hanna a suspected war criminal that is having an affair with a fifteen year old boy - but physically, Winslet allows herself to appear dowdy, frumpy and in many graphic sex scenes, completely naked, hairy arm pits included. More naked then her body is the empathy Winslet imbues Hanna with. Though her actions at times are repellent, somehow Winslet ensures we feel for Hanna, understand her loneliness and make us wonder, would we have made the same choices?
Winslet is supported by an equalling superb cast that includes Ralph Fiennes as the man Hanna’s 15 year old lover becomes. Beautifully non-linear in structure director Stephen Daldry (The Hours) should be commended for not dwelling on titillation that would have been tempting for other filmmakers. The story may contain a sexual relationship between a 30 year old woman and a 15 year old boy, but audaciously the relationship is incidental in the context of the film’s richer themes.
Winslet gives one of those raw, running-the-gauntlet performances that many an actress would think twice about stepping into. Not only is Hanna a suspected war criminal that is having an affair with a fifteen year old boy - but physically, Winslet allows herself to appear dowdy, frumpy and in many graphic sex scenes, completely naked, hairy arm pits included. More naked then her body is the empathy Winslet imbues Hanna with. Though her actions at times are repellent, somehow Winslet ensures we feel for Hanna, understand her loneliness and make us wonder, would we have made the same choices?
Winslet is supported by an equalling superb cast that includes Ralph Fiennes as the man Hanna’s 15 year old lover becomes. Beautifully non-linear in structure director Stephen Daldry (The Hours) should be commended for not dwelling on titillation that would have been tempting for other filmmakers. The story may contain a sexual relationship between a 30 year old woman and a 15 year old boy, but audaciously the relationship is incidental in the context of the film’s richer themes.
Rating: 4/5.
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