Originally produced as a motion picture in 2008.

Based on the book "Der Vorleser" by Bernhard Schlink.

Directors of photography, Chris Menges, Roger Deakins ; production designer, Brigitte Broch ; editor, Claire Simpson ; music, Nico Muhly ; English novel translation by Carol Brown Janeway.

Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz, Karoline Herfurth, Linda Bassett, Hannah Herzsprung, Susanne Lothar, Volker Bruch, Matthias Habich.

"What have we learned (and what might we have forgotten) from history's bloody backwash? Guilt, love, and history are three skeins, woven together to create human beings or, alternately, human monsters. The question of wartime culpability undergirds the May-December romance in postwar Berlin between Hanna, a weary-looking, sexually rapacious streetcar ticket-taker and Michael, a young schoolboy whom she seduces, ravenously and to his great delight. One day, Hanna is gone, with no explanation, and Michael grows into a promising young law student. His class attends a trial, where the new Germany judges the past and, by default, the lovers as well." -- Container.

MPAA rating: Rated R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity.

DVD, NTSC; Region 1; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround; widescreen presentation, preserving the aspect ratio of the original theatrical exhibition, 1.85:1, enhanced for widescreen televisions.

In English or dubbed French ; optional subtitles in Spanish ; optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Academy Awards 2009: Winner, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet.