“The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” is set in a Nazi concentration camp in Poland (called Out-With) and
tells the story of the Holocaust
drama through the eyes of a
nine-year-old boy named Bruno. It was released in 2008 in the United Kingdom.
It is an adaptation of a book of the same
name (2006), which is brilliantly written by the Irish novelist John Boyne. The
film has received several awards.
The role of Bruno, the commander’s son, is played to perfection by Assa
Buttefield. Jack Scalon is absolutly stunning in
the role of Shmuel, who is a Jew boy sent to this concentration camp together
with his family.
Bruno has to leave his comfortable and luxurious home in Berlin during
the World War II when his father is promoted and has to move to a German nazi
concentration camp located in Poland. Although Bruno has a sister (Gretel), he
hates his new house in a desolate area and he misses his friends. From the house, Bruno sees a
camp. Bruno disobeys his parents and decides to explore the strange wire fence.
There, he meets a boy of his own age named Shmuel, who is a Jew who was sent to the camp with his family. Bruno thinks that Shmuel is wearing
striped pyjamas when he is actually wearing a prisoner’s suit. Bruno starts meeting Shmuel
regularly, sneaking him food and playing board games with him. Bruno and Shmuel
talk and become very good friends, although Bruno still does not fully understand what actually happens at the other side of the fence.
One day, Shmuel has problems because his father is missing and has not
returned to the camp. Bruno decides to help Shmuel find his father. Shmuel
brings a set of prisoner clothes and Bruno leaves his own clothes outside the
fence and puts on a striped pyjamas. Afterwards, he digs a big whole under the fence to join
Shmuel in the search and secretly sneaks in the concentration camp without being noticed. In the house, his family discovers
Bruno's disappearance. Led by a dog tracking Bruno's scent, they find his clothes
outside the fence. They enter the camp, looking for Bruno, but it’s already too late : Bruno,
Shmuel and many other innocent Jews have already been gassed. The film ends with a climatic, yet touching
scene showing
the closed door of the now-silent gas chamber, hinting that all prisoners, including Bruno, are dead.
In conclusion, the film is masterfully directed by Mark
Herman, and the scenes and the camerawork are really exquisite. The film
appeals to adults who want more than Hollywood entertainment. What is most
memorable about “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” is the extraordinary
friendship between two innocent boys and the capacity to explore the horrors of
war through the eyes of a little boy. Likewise, the script is really interesting
and gripping for cinema-goers. Despite the fact that it is a dramatic film, I
would highly recommend it to you. The writer has succeeded in creating a
riveting and accurately plausible plot related to a particular and dreadful historical
moment. It’s a true masterpiece.
Here you have the trailer in case you are interested in watching the film.
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