The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Underground Movie Review

One of our college professors once said that history’s importance is it gives us the ability to see our mistakes and to make sure never to do them again - and this is why we are staunch supporters of films depicting humanity's atrocities in the past. One such film that caught our eyes is “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”. A film based on the bestseller novel of the same name by John Boyne. Read on to find out if this film can hold true on its historical accuracy and significance.

The film is centered on a German family and their son named Bruno (Asa Butterfield). Bruno’s father Ralf (David Thewlis) has just been promoted to a new post in the countryside. This countryside location houses a Nazi concentration camp and Ralf is in fact the selected Nazi officer that will run it. When they move, Bruno sees “farmers” from a distance wearing striped pyjamas all day long - unknown to him that these are Jews. Out of curiosity, Bruno wanders around the woods to go near the “farmer’s village” even though he was forbidden by his parents. When he arrives at the village, he meets a boy named Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) and they start becoming the best of friends.

The film is surprisingly a very touching film. The story was really different from what we expected it to be. It kind of breaks the stereotypes we have of how people were during World War II especially the Germans. Most films would portray them as supporters of Hitler’s actions. But in this film, this was taken into a different light - not all are supporters of the atrocities that happened. The acting was gripping as well. Our favorite scene was at the dinner where Ralf was trying his best to hide the growing divide between him and his family. Some might be turned off though by the very slow pace and the ending that was kind of predictable. Quibbles aside, we can say that “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” will leave an indelible mark with you.

Rating: 4 and a half reels

Why you should watch it:
- a touching film with a nice story
- breaks the stereotypes we have of people during World War II and clearly shows that some may have wanted these atrocities to happen but some really did not believe in them

Why you shouldn’t watch it:
- the ending was a bit predictable
- some people will find the pacing a bit too slow and tipping close to boring

Recommendations:

Last updated: 2010-03-12 03:12:54 by user06

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

This is one of the most remarkable holocaust films I’ve ever seen. The story tells of a friendship between two children separated by barbed wire fence. Sets during World War II, you can imagine how different their lives are.

Bruno enters the story as a boy who enjoys playing with his friends, oblivious to what is happening around him. His father, a high rank soldier, gets a promotion which requires the family to relocate to the “countryside”. Bruno does not like the new house because there is no one to play with. From his window, he sees a farm with children in striped pyjamas and delights in the prospect of making new friends. He asks his mother for permission to visit the farm but she forbids. One day, out of boredom and curiosity, he explores into the woods which leads him to Shmuel, a boy in striped pyjamas. Despite being separated by an electrified wire fence, Bruno befriends him without knowing what he is actually seeing. He begins to visit him regularly and as their friendship grows, Bruno is slowly presented with the horrible truth that surrounds him.

It has been quite some time since I saw a holocaust movie and this is exactly what I needed. There are so many World War 2 movies sometimes they make me feel apathetic towards the war but this movie gives us a new perspective of holocaust from an innocent child’s point of view. While watching, I felt like a child who has just been made aware of the inhumanity of holocaust. It left me in distress, which is good. After all it’s not right to leave with smiles after watching a holocaust movie.

This movie doesn’t aim to illuminate the history of holocaust. Some of you might doubt the film because the actors are speaking in English and they are supposedly Germans but I think it is nice to finally be able to watch a World War 2 movie instead of reading it on a big screen. Besides, the actors deliver natural performances especially Vera Farmiga who delivers her character strongly as a woman torn between her moral conscious and role as the commandant’s wife.

This is a harrowing fable that leaves us questioning about humanity and it hits hard.

Mel says: 8/10

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