Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien present
at the Grand Opening of the International Film Festival Breda

1st International Film Festival Breda
March 25 to 29, 2009
www.filmfestivalbreda.com

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands will attend the Grand Opening of the International Film Festival Breda on Wednesday evening, March 25, for the premiere of the feature film The Reader at the MustSee cinema.

Festival Director Leo Hannewijk stated that he was very honored that the Royal Couple would grace the very first edition of the festival with their presence. “Moreover, the arrival of the Royal Couple ensures that the pressing problem of low literacy, a theme in the opening film, is brought even more strongly to the attention.”

Mayor Van der Velden of Breda also expressed his delight: “As a Nassau city, Breda has a close historical connection with the Royal House. We are therefore deeply honored that Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien are visiting our city.”

One of the major themes of The Reader is reading aloud. In her capacity as chair of the Reading & Writing Foundation, Princess Laurentien is closely involved with the societal problem of low literacy. The Reading & Writing Foundation aims to draw attention to the 1.5 million Dutch people who cannot participate fully in society because they have problems with reading and writing.

The Reader
The Reader tells the story of young German schoolboy Michael Berg, who has a secret, passionate relationship with Hanna, a tram conductor twice his age. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and that their friendship intensifies as a result. One book after another, the entirety of world literature, is covered in this way. Until, to Michael's great sorrow, Hanna disappears overnight.
When Michael attends a Nazi tribunal eight years later as a young law student, he sees her again, but in a completely different setting. She is on trial for a terrible crime but refuses to defend herself. Then Michael realizes that his childhood sweetheart is guarding a secret that she considers a greater shame than murder.

The film is directed by Stephen Daldry, known for Billy Elliot (2000) and The Hours (2002). The cast of The Reader includes Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, and Lena Olin, among others. The Reader is based on the world-famous book *The Reader* by Bernhard Schlink.

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Distribution: Benelux Film Distributors
Release date: April 2, 2009

Reading & Writing Foundation
For this film, a special collaboration has been established with the Reading & Writing Foundation. After all, reading aloud forms the common thread in this film. However, the ability to read is not so self-evident for everyone. One and a half million Dutch people are functionally illiterate. They struggle so much with reading and writing that they are unable to keep up sufficiently in society. A large number of prominent Dutch people who care deeply about the theme of literacy have been invited to attend the premiere on March 25.

Oscars / Golden Globe / BAFTA
Kate Winslet has won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her role in The Reader. The film is nominated for five Oscars in the categories Best Actress, Cinematography, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.



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