The Reader (2008)

Behind the mystery lies a truth that will make you question everything you know.

The Reader (2008) poster

The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. He alone realizes that Hanna is illiterate and may be concealing that fact at the expense of her freedom.

Director: Stephen Daldry
Genre: Drama, Romance
Runtime: 124 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Nico Muhly
Cinematography: Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
Editing: Claire Simpson
Production: The Weinstein Company, Mirage Enterprises, Studio Babelsberg
Country: Germany, United States of America
Language: English, Deutsch, ελληνικά, Latin
Budget: $32M
Box Office: $109M
Original Language: en

Themes

Overwhelming Shame and Silence, Heartbreaking Tragic Losses, Moving Relationship Stories, Courtroom Drama, Paralyzing Guilt and Remorse

Keywords

based on novel or book, germany, war crimes, women's prison, trial, female prisoner, reading aloud, love affair, cynical, law student, teenage sexuality, older woman younger man relationship, reading to someone, secret lover, shame

Trailer

The Reader Trailer

Similar Movies

More Films by Director: Stephen Daldry
More Films in Genre: Drama, Romance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Reader about?
The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. He alone realizes that Hanna is illiterate and may be concealing that fact at the expense of her freedom.
Who directed The Reader?
The Reader was directed by Stephen Daldry.
Who stars in The Reader?
The Reader stars Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain.
How long is The Reader?
The Reader has a runtime of 2h 4m (124 minutes).
What genre is The Reader?
The Reader is a Drama, Romance film.
What is the budget of The Reader?
The Reader had a budget of $32M.
How much did The Reader gross?
The Reader grossed $109M worldwide.
Where was The Reader produced?
The Reader was produced in Germany, United States of America.
What are the themes of The Reader?
The themes of The Reader include: Overwhelming Shame and Silence, Heartbreaking Tragic Losses, Moving Relationship Stories, Courtroom Drama, Paralyzing Guilt and Remorse.