Filming of THE READER has begun in Berlin

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THE READER is being filmed in Germany and New York. The film is being produced by Scott Rudin as well as Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack with their company Mirage Enterprises. Co-producers are Carl Woebcken, Christoph Fisser and Henning Molfenter of Studio Babelsberg; executive producer is Redmont Morris. The production is being financed by the Weinstein Company.

In the novel published in 1995, Schlink deals with the German history of the Second World War – a fundamental discussion on the subject of the extermination of Jews and dealing with the perpetrators is linked in a haunting way with a love story. At the same time, the book also deals with the generational conflict in the 50s.

THE READER reunites Kidman, Daldry, Hare and Rudin with Bob and Harvey Weinstein, whose collaboration on THE HOURS in 2002 was rewarded with nine Oscar nominations. Alongside five-time Oscar®-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins, the crew also includes Oscar® winners Claire Simpson (editing), Ann Roth (costume) and Brigitte Broch (production design).

Bernhard Schlink’s novel was translated into 39 languages and received numerous awards. “The Reader” was the first German novel to make it to rank One on the New York Times bestseller list.

Nicole Kidman will soon be seen in cinemas in “Margot at the Wedding” and “The Golden Compass”. She is currently filming Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia”. Two-time Oscar® nominee Ralph Fiennes recently completed filming Martin McDonagh’s feature film “In Bruges” with Colin Farrell.

THE READER is Stephen Daldry’s first feature film after THE HOURS. Most recently, he directed the London stage musical “Billy Elliot”, which will premiere in Australia in December 2007 and on Broadway in autumn 2008.