Reader, The (2008, USA/GER) C-124m. *** D: Stephen Daldry. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Jeanette Hain. Winslet won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as mysterious worker, who helps a 15-year-old boy in 1950s Germany and starts a passionate affair with him. It becomes a habit for him to read out classic stories for her, until they lose sight of each other. Years later, the boy, now being a law student, sees her again in a most uncomfortable position in court. Well-acted, well-directed by the maker of THE HOURS (2002), film is fascinating to some degree, good but not great. Based on the book by Bernhard Schlink. Photography started by Roger Deakins and finished by Chris Menges. Dedicated to producers Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, who both died before film was released.