Far from practical world , " The Reader " is a story of a boy who loved a matured lady and had a short time affair with her which gave a deep impact in his life.
The story starts in a flashback. A 15 year boy ( Michael) met a lady( Hannah ) on a rainy day in Berlin while going back to home. Michael was not well and the lady helped him. A few days later, after gaining good health, he came back to thank her. She behaves in a strange manner and told him to carry coal from downstairs. While carrying coal , his face and clothes got dirty and Hannah asked Mike to put down his clothes including underwear and to bath in a tub. While getting naked for bath, Hannah had a look on the body of Michael and got sexually aroused. She also came naked and aroused Michael to do sex with her. Here the story starts with a different type of relationship between a teenager and a lady in her forties. Michael frequently visited Hannah. Apart from enjoying sexual relationship, remain naked for hours and bathing together, Michael reads stories for Hannah which she enjoyed too much. She never read one and Michael religiously read stories, novels and comics for Hannah. By Profession, Hannah was a Tram Conductor which she never disclosed to Michael. However, one day, Michael met her in the Tram giving a surprise to her but she felt offended. Perhaps, she did not want to disclose her identity as a conductor, i.e. profession for less educated people. Michael was deeply affected by the behaviour and cried and things got normalised. Michael was so infatuated with Hannah, that he ignores his one of the class mates who was young and attractive trying to get close with Michael. But Michael always kept distance with schoolmates. Hannah got promotion in her job and she left her home and Berlin without intimating Michael. Michael was astonished, shocked and sad. He joined law college but still could not befriend with any girl and could not indulge in to sexual relationship with any girl like his friends. As a part of legal practical training , he accompanied his guide and classmates to see a murder trial in a court where he found Hannah as the prime suspect. Hannah was charged with a crime to kill 300 PoWs . Prosecution alleged that she did not open the gate of the building which caught fire while Hannah was on her duty. She explained to judge that she could not open the gate as it could create a havoc and prisoners could flee. She was waiting for the order what to do or not. However, all of the accused ,suspects and prosecution were against Hannah and informed that Judge that she was the in charge of duties. Although Hannah protested that she was not in charge , prosecution presented an affidavit which it claimed to be written by Hannah. As per the document, Hannah was responsible for the incident but it was denied by Hannah. Judge asked for the writing samples and gave a piece of Paper and Pen in the court. Michael disturbed by whole proceedings which could be visible through his face. Hannah could not write anything but Michal understood that Hannah was illiterate. He remembers that Hannah always insisted Michael to read and she never read any book brought by Michael at her home. Hannah accepted all charges against her but did not write anything on the paper. Michael understood that Hannah did not write such document , but he neither revealed such truth before his guide nor before the court although his guide insisted him to reveal any information which could help court of law in giving justice. He realised that Hannah never wanted to be claimed as illiterate and small before the world and she went for life imprisonment but did not let people know that she was illiterate. Michael tried to meet her in Jail but at the last moment he came back and Hannah could not know who wanted to meet her.
After coming back from Jail ,in order to forget Hannah, Michael did sex with one of his classmate which she happily agreed. Time progresses, Michael became a qualified lawyer , he married and became a father of a girl. Still, he could not forget Hannah. He read story books ,recorded in tapes and sent to Hannah for listening. He sent a tape recorder and cassettes without disclosing his identity as he knew Hannah would understand. Michael orated hundreds of books , recorded and sent to Hannah which she enjoyed. Eventually, Hannah with book and recording started to learn reading and writing and finally she learnt to read and write and exchanged a few letters with Michael.
. Finally the Jail authorities informed Michael that Hannah was scheduled to be released after a few days. Michael did not take much interest and acted to be a reserved man. He had plans for Hannah and met Hannah in Jail but both of them did not show much intimacy to each other , did not talk much but their eyes told that how they loved each other. Hannah was not happy to be freed and she committed suicide in her room. As a will , she left some money for the daughter of a lady survived in the accident for which Hannah was imprisoned. Michael , went to USA to meet the lady and handed over the box containing money left by Hannah. But the lady did not accept the money , however she accepted the tin box.
At the end of the movie, Michael went to the grave of Hannah with his daughter . Michael, throughout his life was a reserved man , revealed his past affair and story of Hannah to his daughter.
The movie is a bit slow, but viewers cannot lose interest. Kate Winslet has played the role of Hannah religiously and won academy award for her performance. Enjoy the movie !!
The story starts in a flashback. A 15 year boy ( Michael) met a lady( Hannah ) on a rainy day in Berlin while going back to home. Michael was not well and the lady helped him. A few days later, after gaining good health, he came back to thank her. She behaves in a strange manner and told him to carry coal from downstairs. While carrying coal , his face and clothes got dirty and Hannah asked Mike to put down his clothes including underwear and to bath in a tub. While getting naked for bath, Hannah had a look on the body of Michael and got sexually aroused. She also came naked and aroused Michael to do sex with her. Here the story starts with a different type of relationship between a teenager and a lady in her forties. Michael frequently visited Hannah. Apart from enjoying sexual relationship, remain naked for hours and bathing together, Michael reads stories for Hannah which she enjoyed too much. She never read one and Michael religiously read stories, novels and comics for Hannah. By Profession, Hannah was a Tram Conductor which she never disclosed to Michael. However, one day, Michael met her in the Tram giving a surprise to her but she felt offended. Perhaps, she did not want to disclose her identity as a conductor, i.e. profession for less educated people. Michael was deeply affected by the behaviour and cried and things got normalised. Michael was so infatuated with Hannah, that he ignores his one of the class mates who was young and attractive trying to get close with Michael. But Michael always kept distance with schoolmates. Hannah got promotion in her job and she left her home and Berlin without intimating Michael. Michael was astonished, shocked and sad. He joined law college but still could not befriend with any girl and could not indulge in to sexual relationship with any girl like his friends. As a part of legal practical training , he accompanied his guide and classmates to see a murder trial in a court where he found Hannah as the prime suspect. Hannah was charged with a crime to kill 300 PoWs . Prosecution alleged that she did not open the gate of the building which caught fire while Hannah was on her duty. She explained to judge that she could not open the gate as it could create a havoc and prisoners could flee. She was waiting for the order what to do or not. However, all of the accused ,suspects and prosecution were against Hannah and informed that Judge that she was the in charge of duties. Although Hannah protested that she was not in charge , prosecution presented an affidavit which it claimed to be written by Hannah. As per the document, Hannah was responsible for the incident but it was denied by Hannah. Judge asked for the writing samples and gave a piece of Paper and Pen in the court. Michael disturbed by whole proceedings which could be visible through his face. Hannah could not write anything but Michal understood that Hannah was illiterate. He remembers that Hannah always insisted Michael to read and she never read any book brought by Michael at her home. Hannah accepted all charges against her but did not write anything on the paper. Michael understood that Hannah did not write such document , but he neither revealed such truth before his guide nor before the court although his guide insisted him to reveal any information which could help court of law in giving justice. He realised that Hannah never wanted to be claimed as illiterate and small before the world and she went for life imprisonment but did not let people know that she was illiterate. Michael tried to meet her in Jail but at the last moment he came back and Hannah could not know who wanted to meet her.
After coming back from Jail ,in order to forget Hannah, Michael did sex with one of his classmate which she happily agreed. Time progresses, Michael became a qualified lawyer , he married and became a father of a girl. Still, he could not forget Hannah. He read story books ,recorded in tapes and sent to Hannah for listening. He sent a tape recorder and cassettes without disclosing his identity as he knew Hannah would understand. Michael orated hundreds of books , recorded and sent to Hannah which she enjoyed. Eventually, Hannah with book and recording started to learn reading and writing and finally she learnt to read and write and exchanged a few letters with Michael.
. Finally the Jail authorities informed Michael that Hannah was scheduled to be released after a few days. Michael did not take much interest and acted to be a reserved man. He had plans for Hannah and met Hannah in Jail but both of them did not show much intimacy to each other , did not talk much but their eyes told that how they loved each other. Hannah was not happy to be freed and she committed suicide in her room. As a will , she left some money for the daughter of a lady survived in the accident for which Hannah was imprisoned. Michael , went to USA to meet the lady and handed over the box containing money left by Hannah. But the lady did not accept the money , however she accepted the tin box.
At the end of the movie, Michael went to the grave of Hannah with his daughter . Michael, throughout his life was a reserved man , revealed his past affair and story of Hannah to his daughter.
The movie is a bit slow, but viewers cannot lose interest. Kate Winslet has played the role of Hannah religiously and won academy award for her performance. Enjoy the movie !!
