The Reader

Oh, the irony. If you've seen the relevant episode of Extras, you'll have a silent chuckle at the awards buzz surrounding Kate Winslet's performance. It may also keep popping into your head at inappropriate moments (probably during the loving closeups of the ageing makeup during the second half of the film - there's a gloriously gratuitous shot of "elderly" feet) Far more telling is the hard line which is the default setting of Hanna's mouth. It suggests bitterness, an inherent coldness (possibly a self-defence mechanism) and even cruelty (especially in the light of her backstory) The facial expressions and body language are far more important than much of the dialogue. I don't think you ever warm to the character, even before you know her involvement in the Holocaust. Hanna never seems to understand that she's done anything wrong, so there's no real redemption. Learning to read hardly compensates for being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. This is the big stumbling block to becoming truly involved in the film.