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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Actor(s): Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Amber Beattie, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga
Director(s): Mark Herman
16

Movie Details

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Children in Peril
Movie Release: 2008
DVD Release: 03/10/2009
Format: DVD - Color,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
Edition: Dual Layered
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 34 mins
Studio: Miramax
Members Wishing: 102
Genres: Drama, War Drama, Childhood Drama

DVD Synopsis

Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, and Asa Butterfield star in Little Voice writer/director Mark Herman's adaptation of John Boyne's novel concerning the forbidden friendship that between an eight-year-old German boy and a Jewish concentration camp prisoner in World War II-era Germany. The innocent son of a high-ranking Nazi commandant, Bruno has been largely shielded from the harsh realities of the war. When Bruno discovers that his father has been promoted and that their family will be moving from Berlin into the countryside, he doesn't take the news well. Increasingly bored in his sprawling yet dreary country abode and forbidden by his mother from exploring the backyard, young Bruno searches for something to do while his older sister plays with dolls and vies for the attention of handsome Lieutenant Kotler (Rupert Friend). One day, bored and gazing out his bedroom window, Bruno spies what first appears to be a nearby farm; his parents refuse to discuss it, and all of the inhabitants there are curiously clad in striped pajamas. But while Bruno's mother na�vely believes the "farm" to be an internment camp, her husband has sworn under oath never to reveal that it is in fact an extermination camp specifically designed to help the Nazis achieve their horrific "Final Solution." Eventually defying his mother's rules and venturing out beyond the backyard, Bruno arrives at a barbed wire fence to find a young boy just his age emptying rubble from a wheel barrel. Like Pavel, the kitchen worker who cooks all of Bruno's meals, the young boy is wearing striped pajamas. His name is Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), and before long the two young boys become fast friends. But the closer these two boys grow, the more Bruno becomes awakened to the horrors unfolding all around them. His mother is catching on quickly as well, a fact that causes great tension in her marriage to Bruno's father. Later, after Bruno swipes a piece of cake for Shmuel, Lt. Kotler accuses the Jewish boy of stealing and delivers a swift punishment. When Bruno's father announces that the young boy and his mother will be going to live with their aunt in Heidelberg, Bruno grabs a shovel and makes his way to the camp, setting into motion a tragic and devastating sequence of events. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Actors

Asa Butterfield - Bruno
Jack Scanlon - Shmuel
Amber Beattie - Gretel
David Thewlis - Bruno's Father
Vera Farmiga - Elsa, Bruno's Mother

Member Movie Reviews

Cara F. (dichten) from PRT WASHINGTN, WI wrote on 11/8/2009...

This film is based on the children’s book of the same name (authored by John Boyne).

In terms of a fable, this is great. It explores the naivety (genuine or otherwise, as explained numerously in the true-life testimonials of those living near the extermination camps; those who "did not" smell the stench of burning bodies and those who "could not" see the prisoners marched to their deaths by work; those who did not or could not care), the sheer ignorance surrounding the cataclysmic horror of the Holocaust. The book, this film, dances with the specter of the crushing struggle of humanity (of truth and beauty) in such black times.

The movie itself strives to show the spiderweb of hate and evil, corruption and blindness, love and grace. It does this very well, following closely the book.

Yet this story is garishly inaccurate almost to the point of distraction. Note: I said "almost".

The main element of this movie (heck, the very glue which holds it together) is a farce, an outright lie. For all children were killed upon their entrance to Auschwitz, gassed immediately because of their inability to work. Even if some children were spared (say a child the age of Schmuel) the fences which held the Undesirables were electrified. It would not be possible for anyone to play or commune through such a fence (unnoticed by the guards), let alone crawl under it and enter the camp (again, unnoticed by the guards).

HOWEVER, as mentioned by other reviewers, the ending of the film and the book is greatly disturbing. I realize to what extent the author of the book (ergo, the director of the movie) had to go in order to bring about this ending. The bricks of lies had to be placed for the disgust of the final scenes to come about. These final scenes force us to witness a sickening truth, a truth larger than the killings. It is a truth that, while packaged in lies, is still terrifyingly effective.

Despite (or rather in spite of) the glaring untruths of this story -- I did like it. I would even say I loved it, if one can ever love something with this subject matter.

While I would not recommend this as a work about the Holocaust (because of the twisting of facts), I would recommend this as a greater fable concerning the decency, the PLIGHT of the decency, of human life.

Even with its base of flaws, this is a powerful and haunting tale.

Marianna S. (Angeloudi) from HOLIDAY, FL wrote on 5/2/2009...

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Like the other reviewer, I wanted to watch this movie ever since I had heard the title. Now that I've seen it, however, I will never watch it again because it would be too painful. As a student and teacher of Holocaust Studies, I am always reading accounts of memoirs and watching film depictions on the subject. This movie is unique in the way it depicts life in Berlin under Nazi rule at the beginning of the movie. Rarely do we see everyday Germans going about their business in the busy, German capital in the mid 1940s- bustling about, doing chores, running errands- life is shown as glamorous and bustling, at least for the wealthy Aryans depicted. Bruno and his family live in a beautiful mansion, filled with beautiful objects, servants, and an all-around good life. Bruno's father is feted at a soiree at the beginning announcing his promotion high within the ranks of the Waffen SS. Only his grandmother expresses her unfavorable political views towards the current Nazi government. Bruno's father is portrayed as a cold, obedient soldier who must obey the orders of his superiors. To him, the Jews are not really "human," an idea he tries to explain to the impressionable 8 year old Bruno. Bruno's 12 year old sister, a perfect example of the Aryan HitlerJugend (Hitler Youth) embraces German history and Nazism with relish. Bruno's friendship with the boy in the camp, Shmuel (Yiddish for Samuel)is developed slowly, as Bruno has been shielded by his family to the truth of what is going on in the concentration camp. There is a horrifying ending to this movie, which was somewhat unexpected. I do not wish to divulge what happens and spoil the movie. This movie is a must-see for any student of the Holocaust, but you must be prepared for an absolutely horrifying chain of tragic events at the end. We must never forget man's inhumanity to man while we have breath left in our bodies. Yad Vashem! Never forget!

Bridgett A. (Anya) from BALTIMORE, MD wrote on 5/1/2009...

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

I had wanted to see this movie since it came out. Be careful what you wish for. I had it on my wishlist for a long time until today. I was 14 out of 88. I deleted it after watching it on demand. The ending was so unexpected, shocking and heartbreaking. I won't give the details but if you get upset easily, do not watch this movie. It's a great movie since it does what it is supposed to do. It makes you think and feel but you might not like what you feel. While not too graphic, it does depict some circumstances in a work camp for Jews during WWII. Mans cruelty to each other is too disturbing for words. Excellent movie but I won't watch again and wish I had never seen it. Sure to win awards though.