The Reader ~~~

Kate Winslet done good. Perhaps not Oscar worthy but she probably deserves one anyway.

This film just missed the mark for me but having seen it with a buddy of mine, it certainly gave us plenty to talk about afterwards.

Set in Germany in the 1950's, a teenage boy meets and falls in love with a local bus conductor who takes him in and begins an affair. Together they read, bathe, shag and read some more. It's all very nice and exciting but you know that ultimately it's doomed. That said, once the affair is over one does wonder how the two characters could possibly meet again. But ah ha, that's the plot twist!

Grown up to become a law student, said boy finally finds out what happened to his summer love and it's none too pretty nor romantic. We follow the story of what happens to Winslet's character and finally meet the man the boy grows up to be namely, Ralph Fiennes. We follow their relationship to its natural conclusion and I have to admit, it did make me cry. Like unrequited love, seeing two people parted then joined then parted again always makes me blub.

It really was a good story and the two leads were excellent, as was Fiennes later on, but something just didn't gel with me as a member of the audience. It seems to have tried to pick up on the minutiae of a love affair but follows that up with a blotting out of what's gone before once it moves on to its second half. Disjointed, absolutely and because of this, far less satisfactory as a film.

It would be interesting to view this film again having found out the plot twist to see whether it really does deliver what I think, first time, it missed.

Regardless of my griping, I would recommend anyone to see this film even just to give you the opportunity to see what your brain and heart tells you about this love affair. I also have to take my hat off to Kate for stripping down (again) and for continuing to be the 'brave' and watchable actress she is. Keep it up Kate!

(Viewed on 31/01/09)