Product Details

• Actors: Miou-Miou, Patrick Chesnais, Brigitte Catillon, Maria de Medeiros, André Wilms
• Directors: Michel Deville
• Producers: La Lectrice ( The Reader ), La Lectrice, The Reader
• Format: Import, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: C'est La Vie
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FBT2XU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,131 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: At the suggestion of a friend, Constance (Miou-Miou) places an ad in the paper offering her services as a reader in this romantic comedy drama. Her job leads her to a variety of employers and occasional romantic involvement. Maria Casares plays the widow of an East European general who has Constance read Tolstoy and Marx. Pierre Dux is the local magistrate who prefers to hear the memoirs of the Marquis de Sade. She also has an affair with a harried business executive played by Patrick Chesnais. This film was named the "Best Feature" at the 1988 Montreal World Film Festival. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Ceasar Awards, Montreal World Film Festival, ...La Lectrice ( The Reader )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing movie about the power of words, December 10, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Lectrice [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A baffling, funny, sexy - and unique movie about a young woman who advertises to be a reader and her encounters with her clients. It starts out with her in bed with her lover and at his request she begins reading a book to him, called LA LECTRICE (The Reader). As she reads it's obvious she becomes the character, and we join her in her exploits.

One "client" is a 15-year-old boy in a wheelchair who is full of adolescent love (sexual longing) for her; another is a man looking for sex; another an old blind woman infatuated with Communist Russia; another a little spoiled girl who'd rather go out and play than be read to; another an old retired judge who wants her to read Sade to him.

It doesn't sound like there could be anything promising in any of this, but some of the scenes are hilarious and much of what she chooses to read is sexy and erotic. The movie comes full circle with it ending as she finishes reading the book to her lover in bed. It's all of a piece, although there is no story line and some of the things that happen make no sense (the maid with the spiders, for instance). Technically it's interesting, too, with good fast cutting and the splicing of scenes together seamlessly. Different and fascinating, and all about the power of words (sort of).

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars French spoof dealing with one of the most serious problems, March 4, 2004

By 

cvairag (Allan Hancock College) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: La Lectrice [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The gist of the story line is this: a beautiful, unemployed woman with no vocational training or professional credentials decides to "create her own business" by placing a classified ad in the local paper as a "reader", i.e., she will come to your home and read to you from the book of your choice for a fee. Of course, this offer opens up itself to all the consequences of the naivity and vulnerability implied, and therein the lighthearted farce. The comedy, however, is played off against more serious commentary, under-, or more generally, unstated: a rather brutal expose the inherent limitations in human relations created by our ongoing obsession with sex. This interfacing of the evidently silly, with the inescapably tragic is what gives a film a bit of bite. Mioux-Mioux is perfectly cast, her talent has never shown more brilliantly, and again proves the truth of Cezanne's claim that the beauty of women grows only more profound with age.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars La Lectrice, February 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: La Lectrice [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is like many French movies: wacky humor, political and philosophical references, and sexy. It's entertaining and amusing especially if you understand French and/or have read the books that la lectrice reads to her clients. Good if you like Miou Miou or French comedies.