The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Score: 7/10

Let’s start with the plot first shall we? The main character here is Bruno (Asa Butterfield), an eight-year old German boy who lives comfortably in Berlin around the 1940. As a kid, he does not really understand what is going on around him and he doesn’t think much about the war that has been going.

Bruno’s father (David Thewlis) is a Nazi official, while his mother (Vera Varmiga) is an elegant housewife. One day, his father is promoted to be a commandant of a concentration camp and the family has to move to the country area, far away from Berlin. Bruno knows nothing about the camp. He always refers the place as a farm.

The new house is big and surrounded with walls. Soldiers and officials are often visiting the place. In the mean time, Bruno feels lonely since there is no kids and school around. He explores around the new place and he wanders off to the farm. There he meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a boy about his age. Obviously Shmuel is a Jew, but this does not prevent the two lonely boys to become friends. Bruno sometimes brings food for Shmuel and they also play some board game together. Bruno and Shmuel do not really grasp the severity of the condition. Over the days, their friendship grows and it ends in an unexpected circumstance.

Although the movie is exploring the life of a Nazi family, all the actors speak English or British accent to be exact. It might sound odd, but in my opinion it works perfectly well here. The movie runs smoothly from start to the end. Every character is developed nicely and each has sufficient screen time so we can see what they feel and experience.

The acting is superb from all the casts. A special praise is given to Butterfield for his performance as Bruno. Those clear blue eyes of his are just amazing. He shows a great range of emotions for such a young boy. His expression and body language are really natural like a normal kid, which make me feel attached with him. Thewlis is a suitable cast as a strict man who tries to balance his duties for the country and the family. Varmiga also shows a strong performance and she interacts successfully with everyone.

Some parts of the movie feel unreal however. For one thing, I feel that it is too easy for Bruno and Shmuel to interact almost on daily basis. The ending is very strong and moving. It is a love or hate ending. Some will surely like it, while others will not be able to accept it. I was also surprised with the end part, but I think that it is suitable. In conclusion, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is not a war movie, but it tells story about people. It shows how our society has become so corrupted that it affects our loved ones in very unimaginable ways. I recommend this movie, but you really need to guide your children while watching it.

Visit these sites for more info on the movie:
- IMDB: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)
- Official site for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

"Why can't we be friends?"