Is "The Reader" a good film to show in a High School Holocaust class?

[The_Basterd]

I'm a senior right now and the class is full of 10th-12th graders. We've watched a few R-Rated Holocaust films. Regardless R-rated films have a signed permission slip to watch. We've watched Life is Beauiful, Schindler's List, The White Ribbon, The Boy with Stripped Pajamas, and Defiance btw. I know this film has a lot of nudity.

Do you think the film is worth making a recommendation to my teacher/relevancy?

[SpaceDog]

I don't think it would be nearly as relevant as something like Schindler's List. While this film touches on the Holocaust, it's way too tertiary for most schools to bring into the lesson plan.

[jwerk]

I don't find The Reader to be accurate or relevant. I would say 'no'.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by jwerk

I don't find The Reader to be accurate or relevant. I would say 'no'.

Accurate?

[Marcus Wright]

No, not at all.
Its drama more than anything else.

[Pondosinatra]

The Reader

3 out of 5

Hanna Schmitz (Winslet) is a simple woman who lives alone in a run down apartment in 1950's Germany. One day she comes across a young boy (Kross) who is violently ill and kindly helps him. He soon returns to thank her and they begin a torrid love affair. However the sex becomes secondary to her delight in having him read great books of literature to her. And then one day she is gone and the boy grows up into a young adult who enters law school. While attending a war crimes trial he hears Hannah's familiar voice once again and to his horror realizes the woman who broke his heart all those years ago was formerly a SS guard at a Nazi concentration camp. I liked the first half of the movie, but found the second half lacking. This is one of those films that frustrate me for being tantalizingly close to greatness but ultimately failing for any number of reasons. They really could have explored the moral dilemma of the German citizens in WWII, but instead chose to sum it up in one sentence with Hannah asking 'What would you have done?' They also could have explored the postwar generations attempts to come to terms with the horrors of the past and national sense of shame. But instead they only fleetingly touched upon it in a few scenes. Still, Kate Winslet is amazing and as usual you get to see lots of her naked. A thought provoking but ultimately frustrating movie.

[The_Basterd]

Ok yah. I'm going to bring my Sophie's Choice DVD instead lol.