Winslet’s best performance in ‘The Reader’

Kate Winslet once said, playing herself in the mockumentary TV series Extras, that whoever stars in a Holocaust film automatically wins an Oscar. Which makes it a bit ironic that she has finally won an Oscar, starring in The Reader, a Holocaust film. I only say ‘a bit ironic’ because she truly delivered the best performance of the year, and in a rare feat (for the Oscars), they actually picked the right winner.

Michael Berg is a 15-year old boy living in 1958 Germany. He’s rather quiet and reserved. One day coming home from school he vomits, and a tram conductor named Hanna Schmitz gives him some medicine. Michael becomes infatuated with Hanna and they begin an affair. They fall in love, despite the noticeable age difference. But then one day Hanna is suddenly gone, leaving Michael heartbroken. They reunite 8 years later, though under undesirable circumstances: He is a law student, and she is on trial for Holocaust war crimes.

The Reader is a rather subtle film that also happens to tackle some really huge issues. Holocaust, growing up, affairs, guilt. But there is no huge revelation moment of screaming, no major Hollywood twist ending. It’s handled rather delicately. It’s not a happy film, and one could argue that the morals of the story are rather twisted.

Kate Winslet, in her Oscar-winning performance, is fantastic. Her mastery of accents is rather well-known by now, her German accent is flawless. She pulls off the incredible feat of making a despicable character almost sympathetic. From the first hour where you can sense her massive regret, to her scenes as a 70-year old woman that in a way, provide the emotional core of the film, Winslet is fantastic. The greatest actress working today gives her greatest performance, and it makes this film worth seeing alone.

David Kross is great as Michael Berg at ages 15 and 23. At 15 he has an aura about him, an energy that is rather unique. Which makes it rather shocking how somber his body language and overall demeanor is during the courtroom scenes. Ralph Fiennes plays Michael in his 40s and 50s, and has the easiest job of the three. He’s on for about 15 minutes.

The Reader is one of the better Holocaust films, with an emotional impact you don’t quite expect. It’s actually sort of a masterpiece. A

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