The Reader
2008 · Movie · R · 124 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Based on The Reader
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Details
- Years
- 2008
- Release date
- 2008-12-10
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 124 min
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (3,393 votes)
Themes
- based on novel or book
- germany
- war crimes
- world war ii
- women's prison
- trial
- female prisoner
- reading aloud
- love affair
- cynical
- law student
- teenage sexuality
- +15 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2009
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress in a Leading Role · 2009
- European Film Award — Best Actress · 2009
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role · 2009
- World Soundtrack Award — Discovery of the Year · 2009
Show all 47 awards →
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008
- Chicago Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · 2008
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award — Best Actress · 2008
- London Film Critics Circle Award — Actress of the Year · 2008
- San Diego Film Critics Society Award — Best Actress · 2008
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award — Best Actress · 2008
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2009 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 2009 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 2009 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2009 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2009 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Film · 2009 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress in a Leading Role · 2009 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Direction · 2009 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2009 · nominated
- David di Donatello — Best European Film · 2009 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actress · 2009 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Film · 2009 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actor · 2009 · nominated
- London Film Critics Circle Award — Actress of the Year · 2009 · nominated
- London Film Critics Circle Award — British Actress of the Year · 2009 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Female Performance · 2009 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role · 2009 · nominated
- World Soundtrack Award — Discovery of the Year · 2009 · nominated
- American Society of Cinematographers Award — Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases · 2008 · nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 2008 · nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008 · nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Young Performer · 2008 · nominated
- Chicago Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 2008 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Director · 2008 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · 2008 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Screenplay · 2008 · nominated
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award — Best Actress · 2008 · nominated
- Online Film Critics Society Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008 · nominated
- San Diego Film Critics Society Award — Best Actress · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Director · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Adapted Screenplay · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Film · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Actress – Motion Picture · 2008 · nominated
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award — Best Actress · 2008 · nominated
Cast & crew
Ralph Fiennes
as Michael Berg
Kate Winslet
as Hanna Schmitz
David Kross
as Young Michael Berg
Lena Olin
as Rose Mather
Bruno Ganz
as Professor Rohl
Jeanette Hain
as Brigitte
Hannah Herzsprung
as Julia
Karoline Herfurth
as Marthe
Volker Bruch
as Dieter Spenz
Alexandra Maria Lara
as Young Ilana Mather
Directed by Stephen Daldry