This was a very good movie for an adults. The theme in general is about the suffering and after affects affects of a child who is basically molested by an ex Nazi solder.
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The Reader
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Literary adaptation tackles sex, shame, and guilt.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 17–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Reader
Parents need to know that this mature drama revolves around the sexual relationship between a 15-year-old boy and a much older woman. There are extensive sex scenes, full-frontal nudity, and a real, raw sense of sensuality throughout the first half of the film. The woman is later revealed to be an ex-Nazi prison guard on trial for her actions during the war; this involves extensive discussion of Nazi Germany's crimes against Jews and other victims of the Holocaust. There's also lots of talk about heavy, complex topics like complicity, guilt, shame, forgiveness, and responsibility. It's worth noting that even with the story's powerful undercurrent of eroticism, the Bernhard Schlink book it's based on is a staple of German high school class reading.
Read our full review by James Rocchi
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the controversy around the film's central relationship. Some commentators suggest that if the genders of the partners were reversed, their relationship would be seen as purely abusive and immoral. Do you agree? What messages is the movie sending about sex and relationships? Families can also discuss the film's central question: How can Germans put Nazi crimes and the Holocaust into perspective in the present? How is this movie similar to and different from other movies that deal with those events/issues?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Not for kids
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Passionate film with often long drama.
The Reader is a very well made film by director Stephen Daldry. It tells the story of a young boy who is inexperienced with love and a women (Winslet) who is a very passionate towards him. Above i put nothing as an issue except a couple of scenes that are passionate not graphic. Some parents of adults may think this is a disgusting movie because of it's content but the movie is a well made film and when you are a teenager go out and rent this piece.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
The Reader....WAAAY Too Much Sex, just not necessary for the movie
The graphic, leave-little-to-the-imagination sex scenes went way beyond the realm of standard R-rated material. It was very uncomfortable to watch. And when you consider that we are basically watching statutory rape on screen, that makes it that much more reprehensible. When the two characters are experimenting with a new sexual position, the viewers are allowed to see the position unfold and hear Ms. Winset's pleasure. This is borderline soft pornographic. And the irony is that I'm not an old prude! I'm a 30-thing male who enjoys a good sex scene as much as the next guy. But it shouldn't permeate through half the show. And it shouldn't be so explicitly graphic and it should not glamorize statutory rape in any way. If it were a male nazi prison guard with a 15 year old girl, would the reaction be the same? I doubt it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Read Reviews Before You Go
I had read the CS Media review & knew what to expect. The friend I went with was shocked by the graphic sex scenes. They were a little more than I expected, too. I wonder how this movie slid by with an R-rating, rather than an NC-17. Kate Winslet bares all (often), as does the young male star (just not as often). Their affair leaves little to the imagination. The story jumps back and forth between time periods, so make sure to watch for the indications of time changes. Maybe knowing the basic story premise helped, my friend got confused some of the time changes: artistically cool, but not necessarily viewer friendly. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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