Director: Mark Herman
Starring: Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend
Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ (sometimes spelt Pyjamas) is a disturbing war movie told from the perspective of an 8-year old boy, Bruno (Asa Butterfield). When his father is promoted, they move to the countryside where they live near a concentration camp. Bruno believes the camp to be a farm, and the slave, Pavel, working for them to be a farmer. (Before the war, Pavel was studying to be a doctor.)
Bored and longing for friends, Bruno befriends an 8-year old Jewish boy, Shmuel, in the camp. He visits regularly – one boy a prisoner and the other one free, with a fence separating them. The film so well illustrates the innocent and naïve nature of children. Not realizing Shmuel is actually a prisoner, Bruno envies him for having friends to play with. Bruno doesn’t understand the horrors of war.
German children are brainwashed with derogative teachings about Jews, but for Bruno there is no divide between them. ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ is sad and disturbing in so many different ways. This is a very well scripted film with fantastic performances. Asa Butterfield in particular was excellent as Bruno. Prepare yourself for a shocking finale!
‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ earned $44.1 million on a budget of $12.5 million. The film won several awards including Best Actress and Best Film.
Would I watch it again? Yes.
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