Directed by:
Mark HermanScreenplay:
Mark HermanCinematography:
Benoît DelhommeComposer:
James HornerCast:
Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Rupert Friend, Richard Johnson, Sheila Hancock, Cara Horgan, Amber Beattie, David Hayman (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Based on the best selling novel by John Boyne, it's an unforgettable motion picture experience powerful and moving beyond words (Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com). Bored and restless in his new home, Bruno, an innocent and naive eight year old, ignores his mother and sets off on an adventure in the woods. Soon he meets a young boy, and a surprising friendship develops. Set during World War II, this remarkable and inspiring story about the power of the human spirit will capture your heart and engage your mind. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (7)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a sensitive, naïve (and bordering on kitschy) American take on the Holocaust “for the whole family” (also thanks to James Horner’s sweet piano music). That is not necessarily a bad thing, since the film is about a child’s perception of the world. It might even be good for school-aged children, who’d be more interested in this kind of history lesson than in boring textbooks. They might perfectly identify with the main character. In my eyes, however, the film loses credibility because of the cheap coincidences (plot twists) it uses to reach the heartbreakingly tragic climax. This is a sentimental affair meant to milk the audience’s emotions, which, however, with a better script and filmed by Michael Haneke or Roman Polanski could have been a great film.
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I had been putting off The Boy in the Striped Pajamas for a long time. I finally got around to it... Yes, it’s not an easy watch. The film reminded me of Life Is Beautiful in its tone. It’s another harsh clash between childlike innocence and the cruel reality of World War II. However, the film doesn’t rely solely on the dialogues between the main child protagonist, Bruno, and the captured boy in the concentration camp, Shmuel. The creators did a great job of deeply portraying other characters as well (the unyielding father as a Nazi officer, the mother losing her illusions, the older sister succumbing to German propaganda), for which I have to give a solid thumbs up. Add to that the tragic ending, which hits every viewer hard (nothing else has emotionally affected me like this for a long time), and you have a well-executed cinematic achievement on all fronts. Quality work. I give it an 8/10.
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A chilling story told through the eyes of a child, full of fear and childish naivety, which managed to draw me in and only let me go after the final and unexpected climax. The film is a fine spectacle in every way, with plenty of convincing and well-chosen actors, excellent cinematography and a grandiose score by veteran James Horner. I was all the more intrigued by the film because, as I said, it is taken mainly from the point of view of the children, a Jew vs. a German. In short, a captivating film that is perfect in its technical and acting aspects and timeless and powerfully emotional in its story.
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The film as a whole struck me. I'm glad it's not unnecessarily drawn out and lengthy, but I was quite bothered by the predictability of the ending. It did build up a lot of emotion, but part of me was disappointed. A wonderful acting performance in my eyes was given by Vera Farmiga. The thoughtfulness and innocence of little Bruno sometimes entertained me, sometimes made me sad. The main weapon here is the strong subject matter and right after that the quality dialogue. It's a close one, but I’m giving it 5 stars.
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It's a low-key film, but one that manages to stir the level of emotions and the viewer's experience quite easily. The premise is very naive perhaps and the family concept in connection with the deep ethical theme is too loose, but the way the story is told and built-up makes up for everything. Thewlis and Farmiga are superb and Horner is traditionally excellent. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the depressive ending out of my head very easily. 80%
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