AMB Reviews

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas: 9/10 Stars

Release Date: November 7, 2008

Content Advisory: Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material involving the Holocaust. An older man is beaten off screen. A group of men are gassed in a gas chamber, though it mainly takes place off screen. A small boy receives a large cut around his eye. Being a Holocaust movie, you can expect plenty of Holocaust talk, including topics such as the crematoriums, the concentration camps, and the Jews.

Review:

Knowing only what I saw in the trailer, I walked into this film knowing barely anything about it, besides the obvious fact that it was about the Holocaust. And how many more Holocaust movies can we make? Fortunately, my small shred of doubt was overcome by the originality and true power that this movie delivers by the time the end credits roll around.

In Short:

"The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" offers one of the most unique perspectives on any Holocaust story I have ever read or seen. Taking place completely from the perspective of a sheltered, eight-year-old boy who soon befriends an enslaved Jew, this drama has to be the most riveting and moving film I have seen since "Rachel Getting Married..." perhaps even more so. The two main actors, playing the role of the two little boys were both fantastic and conducted the most talented child acting I have seen since Haley Joel Osment in "The Sixth Sense." Overall, although the ultimate conclusion is depressing, tragic, and not for the faint of heart, "The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" offers a unique perspective on a harrowing event in history.

In Full:

This story begins with eight-year-old Bruno, who, after his dad receives a promotion as a Nazi soldier, is forced to move with his family out into the lone countryside. He leaves his friends and enters a completely new and isolated world, where his family tries to shelter and protect him from the startling truth just outside their window? What is that startling truth, you may ask? A concentration camp is located only several miles away from their home, completely visible through Bruno's room window. At first, this immature and childish boy just believes that they're "farmers" who wear "pajamas" all day long. However, when Bruno secretly sneaks out to the fence of the work camp and meets a small boy, named Schmuel, his life is changed forever, as conflicts arise with Bruno's father and Bruno questions whether or not the Nazis really are helping make the world a better place.

As the story progressed and it grew much deeper (and at times, darker), I couldn't help but be pulled into the world that Bruno lives in. Although most certainly not as realistic as, per say, "Rachel Getting Married," this drama really captured what it was like for such an innocent boy, like Bruno, to live back then. I felt engaged in the story and entangled with the various characters personalities. Although I have not read the book this was based on, I have heard that it is a pretty close adaptation of the book, and am looking forward to reading it.

The visuals, for a movie only opening in 17 theaters its first week of release, were actually pretty decent. The whole movie felt like an actual high-budget movie, with astounding visuals of the concentration camps and Bruno's countryside home. The acting was marvelous as well, each actor fitting perfectly into the role he or she was given. As stated above, the two main child actors, Bruno and Schmeal, were both amazing, especially given their age, and I also found Bruno's mother to excel in what few scenes she was given to actually do something. Everyone else, though they did not stick out to me, did not ruin the movie for me in the slighest way either.

Being one who has always been interested in the Holocaust, I must say... this movie was definetely one that will stick with me and haunt me for a pretty long while to come. After reading such books as "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Cage," "Night," and "The Book Thief," and seeing movies such as "The Diary of Anne Frank," I can't recall any of them containing the perspective that was offered here. Though several scenes may verge on the cliche side, "The Boy In Striped Pajamas" offers such a different view on the Holocaust, it was nearly impossible for me to not to stay engaged with the story. Not once did I find this film draggy, boring, monotonous or repetitive. Instead, it is a true, down-to-earth take on the Holocaust from a boy with barely any knowledge of that topic. It does not sugarcoat a thing when it comes to the brutal and tragic ending.

Although "The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" is most certainly not for the faint of heart, it most certainly is for those in need of a surreal, thought-provoking, and haunting film that they can sink their teeth into. It is most definetely not recommended for smaller children, but for those older who are wanting a riveting and dramatic piece of work... this film could be for you. Just don't expect it to be anything completely happy. Expect a depressing, yet still semi-hopeful film that will remain with you for a good long time to come. This movie has the power to give, take, wrench at your heartstrings, build up your hopes, and truly make you think... which in this case, is a good thing.