The Reader doesn't do that.
It portrays her war-crimes trial, at which she readily and bluntly admits to her crimes. How anyone finds an "innocent victim" in that is beyond me.
The sympathy angle comes from the fact that she admitted them in order to cover up her illiteracy. Though how an illiterate could process tram tickets and make change all day beats men.
I am scratchinng my head at the concerted effort to belttle, condemn, mock, and marginalise this film. I have seen all of this years majors, Milk, Slumdog, etc. The Reader is the only movie which was at least worth the time spent watching.