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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is one of the best and hardest films you will ever watch. The film is based on the novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This is the story of a young boy who finds friendship in the most unlikely and prohibited place.

Bruno, an eight-year-old German boy, and Schmuel, an eight-year-old Jewish child become friends through an electric fence that divides them. After observing cruelty perpetrated against Jews he considers kind and good people, he begins to question the Nazi dogma. The film portrays Bruno’s loss of innocence in such a way that you too feel the confusion, pain, and horror as it happens within his young life. Through the eyes of a child we observe so much that you cannot in other Holocaust films.

The film would be scarcely as good or as harrowing if other than Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon had been chosen for the roles of Bruno and Schmuel, respectively. These two played their roles brilliantly. Because of their incredible work and the extraordinary story, it is impossible not to become attached to Bruno and Schmuel by the end of the film. The excruciating climax of the film because of this and all it represents will very likely leave you struck speechless long after the credits roll.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is extremely effective in its portrayal, on a micro level, of this disturbing and atrocious genocide. While there are many films out there that focus on the Holocaust, this one is markedly different. Viewers will be left to consider humanity’s potential for hatred, denial [even in the direst of times], and still too love. See this film and you will not regret it.

Tags: Asa Butterfield, Film, Holocaust, Jack Scanlon, Movies, Nazism, Review, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 at 7:37 am and is filed under Film, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.