A truly remarkable film starring Bruno Ganz, Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.
It is a bit difficult to write about the plot without giving too much away - but in outline Bruno Ganz plays a 15 year old Michael Berg who meets tram conductor Hannah Schmidt as he falls ill from scarlet fever. She helps him to get home and when four months later (after he has recovered) he returns to offer her thanks and they begin an affair, despite their great age difference. Between torrid sex sessions Michael reads to Hannah - anything he happens to be studying at school. Hannah suddenly disappears, and years later Michael as a law student attends a trial where Hannah is accused of a terrible crime. Michael realises he knows a secret about Hannah that could throw a whole new light on the evidence being presented against her. He fails to reveal it - and she is too ashamed to admit it too. This bears upon Michael throughout his life - and effectively ruins his relationships with his family, wife and daughter. There are wonderful performances from Kate Winslet and in particular Bruno Ganz who manages to be both a believable 15 year old and a more mature man. It is so well observed and the emotions described so excellently, dealing with powerful and repellent behaviour with remarkable sensitivity. A rating of 9/10
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