A surprising movie, with much of the love contained therein totally not expressed. Kate Winslet who received the Academy Award as Hanna Schmitz, Ralph Fiennes, who is always excellent, and a great young actor playing Ralph’s younger self character, Michael Berg. Beautifully played, the last third very disturbing.
Much casual, comfortable nudity as he reads to her in the love scenes. But, as usual, I was re-writing it. Michael Berg didn’t talk to anyone about anything. Bottled up, until the last few minutes. That bottling up hurt him, hurt Hannah, hurt everyone in the film – but that wasn’t the main story. Which is the love affair between 15-year-old Michael and 20-something bus conductor Hannah, and what happens after that – for the next 40 years.
Not much to grin about after some scenes in the first few minutes – but an excellent film nonetheless.