The Reader Movie Trailer

The Weintein Co has released the first trailer for Stephen Daldry's adaptation of The Reader. The romantic drama is set in a post-World War II Germany, and tells the story of "a man whose life has been shaped by an illicit affair with a passionate, elusive older woman during his youth." The film stars Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.

Bernhard Schlink's The Reader has been translated into 39 languages, has garnered numerous awards, and is the first German novel to reach number one on The New York Times Bestseller List. The post production quibbles have been well documented, and Harvey Weinstein hopes to have the film in theaters on December 10th. Watch the trailer in High Definition on Apple.com, or embedded below.

[flv:http://bitcast-a.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/trailers/thereader.flv 470 264]

Official Plot Synopsis: The Reader opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from "The Odyssey," "Huck Finn," and "The Lady with the Little Dog." Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. "The Reader" is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.