Student Film Reviews

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1. Jameson Macaluso 03.07.09 / 9pm

   It’s interesting to me that the reviewer didn’t mention that Kate Winslet’s character was illiterate. This fact and her apparent shame regarding it was so central to her behavior, the choices she made and how she lived her life. I think this shame and the fear that she would be discovered was that catalyst for most of the things she did in her life. She ended her affair with Michael “The Reader” by moving away abruptly when she was promoted in her job and would be required to probably read and write. During her trial, she wouldn’t admit her illiteracy to save her own life.
   I agree with the review in all other aspects, but personally was so touched by her ‘secret’ and what it must have meant to her that that is what I’ll remember most about this film.
2. Sarah Gustavsson 06.27.09 / 12am

   I completely agree with what is already said. After watching this film I realized how important it is to know how to write and read. In the western world it isn’t something you choose to learn, you just have to. I can’t even imagine being like Hanna and how hard it would be to be reminded about it every day. Even if no one really tells us that she was illiterate, all her actions show that. She is extremely limited in her life because her inability and she is doing whatever it takes to hide her weakness. Even if she knows that she could save herself many years in prison for telling her secret, she didn’t. The film also shows us that if you don’t commit your weaknesses you are never going to get rid of them. Some people are too pride to admit it and that is even a bigger weakness. I really like the film and I would strongly recommend it.
3. Yi Sui 10.26.09 / 12pm

   In the movie, what Michael does is helping Hanna to read the books. As an audience, what I read from this movie is Hanna’s miserable life. After the movie, I was crying. I am trying to figure out why she chose to do so. I think the answer is the shame and fear. The shame and fear is just like evil, which totally drives Hanna’s mind. When Michael asks Hanna why she can’t read the book by herself, she tells a lie. When she is in the court, they are showing the paper having a fake signature on it, she choose to lie again. Due to her stupid lie, she admit the guilt actually she have never had done, and it turns out that the rest of her life she must stay in the jail. At this point, I feel so angry about Hanna, and I really hope I can have the chance to help her speak out the truth that she is illiterate.
   Anyway, “The Reader” is really a nice movie, and I really like the excellent performance Kate Winslet did in the movie. She did truly present a real Hanna in front of us. And this movie really makes me thinks a lot and gives me a good lesson.
4. Kambrin Thorne 11.10.09 / 2pm

   I was thoroughly entertained by this film. The film is initially very surprising because of the affair between the Young man and older woman especially during such a time. Kate Winslet and David Kross do a beautiful job. You are pulled into the beauty of their love, almost forgetting the circumstances. It is very curious a woman of her age, lonely, being read to by the young boy and then just leaving. The tale later intensifies when the boy knows her biggest secret, that she is illiterate, and says nothing at the trial. Her iliteracy is a huge part of the film for she would have served much less time in prison if she would have admitted to her lack of ability. But her embarrassment was that strong that she would sacrifice her free life so no one would no her secret.

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