The Reader
So...I watched this movie The Reader last night.
And I just...while there were wonderful parts about this story...there was also the issue that it's about a woman who seduces a 15-16 year old boy for the summer and teaches him the ways of sex. And in the midst of that he begins reading things to her - homework from school, books from the library etc.
And I just don't know that I ever needed to see that up close and personal.
I knew what it was about...it just sort of shocked me to watch everything unfold. especially because the sub-major-plot was actually about that woman who was then later tried as a nazi guard in the SS and was put in jail for a life sentence. So in between flashbacks of him learning about sexual intercourse at 15-16, there's the angst of this trial that the boy is sitting through as a law student ten years after the affair, and then their lives after the sentencing.
See for some reason....ten or so years after she's been sentenced the guy - as a grown up - starts regularly recording books onto cassette tape and sending them to the woman in jail. She then checks out the books he's reading from the jail library and teaches herself to read. Well, not like she has much else to do while she's in prison. So then I'm all like, "Wow...this movie would be fantastic if I could get past the fact that the whole basis for this relationship is that this woman seduced the man when he was younger."
But then let's talk about those moral issues. If he had been two or three years older...HE probably would have been working for the SS or for someone in the Nazi unit. The only reason he hadn't been was due to the fact that he'd had scarlet fever and was held back in school or something. Plus, back in that time, wasn't 15-16 fairly.. I don't know not as young as it is now?
But then he was still just a boy...so how was it not her taking advantage of the young guy and his budding hormones? And how is this a movie that people think should be made? BAH! Having to take in the context of the times makes me feel like the audience isn't supposed to get all up in arms about the fact that this 30-something woman seduced the 15-16 year old. But then...is it even possible to fall for something THAT young? I've always thought no. I mean...the movie really tried to get you to believe the two people loved each other. And while I totally can buy a 15 year old falling in love with an older woman - especially if she lets him sleep with her...I just...wouldn't there have to be some screws out of place for the 30 year old to equally have feelings for the boy? Because while I can manage that 15 then wasn't 15 now...I have some issues with the fact that she'd had twice the experiences in time that he did.
If they would have made him just two or three years older I don't think I'd be having this issue. But then what if the story had been about a male nazi guard and a female teenager? Would society have responded in a different way? Would the movie have been more controversial do you think?
So...while I like the ethical and thought provoking result of this movie and II REALLY enjoyed the bits that weren't about the crazy pedofilic summer. I just...I think the nature of the relationship really creeps me out. Now, the movie didn't establish a 'this is right, this is wrong' mentality for the audience. It was more of a, "This is happening and a piece of the story...take it as you will." Gah.
Someone tell me their thoughts on this - if they've seen the movie or not.
And I just...while there were wonderful parts about this story...there was also the issue that it's about a woman who seduces a 15-16 year old boy for the summer and teaches him the ways of sex. And in the midst of that he begins reading things to her - homework from school, books from the library etc.
And I just don't know that I ever needed to see that up close and personal.
I knew what it was about...it just sort of shocked me to watch everything unfold. especially because the sub-major-plot was actually about that woman who was then later tried as a nazi guard in the SS and was put in jail for a life sentence. So in between flashbacks of him learning about sexual intercourse at 15-16, there's the angst of this trial that the boy is sitting through as a law student ten years after the affair, and then their lives after the sentencing.
See for some reason....ten or so years after she's been sentenced the guy - as a grown up - starts regularly recording books onto cassette tape and sending them to the woman in jail. She then checks out the books he's reading from the jail library and teaches herself to read. Well, not like she has much else to do while she's in prison. So then I'm all like, "Wow...this movie would be fantastic if I could get past the fact that the whole basis for this relationship is that this woman seduced the man when he was younger."
But then let's talk about those moral issues. If he had been two or three years older...HE probably would have been working for the SS or for someone in the Nazi unit. The only reason he hadn't been was due to the fact that he'd had scarlet fever and was held back in school or something. Plus, back in that time, wasn't 15-16 fairly.. I don't know not as young as it is now?
But then he was still just a boy...so how was it not her taking advantage of the young guy and his budding hormones? And how is this a movie that people think should be made? BAH! Having to take in the context of the times makes me feel like the audience isn't supposed to get all up in arms about the fact that this 30-something woman seduced the 15-16 year old. But then...is it even possible to fall for something THAT young? I've always thought no. I mean...the movie really tried to get you to believe the two people loved each other. And while I totally can buy a 15 year old falling in love with an older woman - especially if she lets him sleep with her...I just...wouldn't there have to be some screws out of place for the 30 year old to equally have feelings for the boy? Because while I can manage that 15 then wasn't 15 now...I have some issues with the fact that she'd had twice the experiences in time that he did.
If they would have made him just two or three years older I don't think I'd be having this issue. But then what if the story had been about a male nazi guard and a female teenager? Would society have responded in a different way? Would the movie have been more controversial do you think?
So...while I like the ethical and thought provoking result of this movie and II REALLY enjoyed the bits that weren't about the crazy pedofilic summer. I just...I think the nature of the relationship really creeps me out. Now, the movie didn't establish a 'this is right, this is wrong' mentality for the audience. It was more of a, "This is happening and a piece of the story...take it as you will." Gah.
Someone tell me their thoughts on this - if they've seen the movie or not.