S.L.I.F.F. Review: ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’

Ram Man:

This is the most unique look at the genocide that went on in Nazi Germany during World War II. Mark Herman’s new film ‘The Boy In The Striped Pajamas’ looks at the war and the holocaust through the eyes of an innocent 8 year old German boy named Bruno. Herman adapted his screenplay from the John Boyne novel of the same name.

The story begins with Bruno’s father (David Thewlis of the Harry Potter series), an SS officer in Hitlers army, excepting a promotion and informing the family they are moving out of Berlin. Bruno is opposed to the move and doesn’t want to leave his friends. His mother (Vera Farmigia from the Departed) does the best job she can selling the country and tells Bruno he will have lots of friends there. Bruno’s twelve year old sister is fine once they arrive at the Country house and spots a young German officer she can flirt with.

We soon learn Bruno’s father’s promotion is to be commandant of a concentration camp a few kilometers from the house. Bruno , starving for companionship, begins to explore the house and it’s surroundings. He spies, what he refers to as a farm, out his window. Bruno asks his mother why are all the farmers wearing pajamas? Just as his mother begins to answer him one of the workers from the camp brings in fresh vegetables from the garden. She then simply answers “I don’t know”. Bruno’s mother is infuriated with her husband for deceiving her and the kids by landing them within earshot and smell of the camp. Bruno, bored out of his mind, goes against his parents wishes and explores the back yard and finds himself at the fence of the farm.

Bruno finds another boy inside the farm the same age as him. His name is Smuel. Bruno responds “I’ve never heard of anyone called Shmuel..” and Shmuel responds “I’ve never heard of anyone called Bruno”. The two boys hit it of and start up a limited friendship. Limited by an electric fence that separates them. Bruno then begins daily visits to play and talk to Shmuel. Bruno would bring him food and a checkers game so that they could play at their picnic. The two exchange details of their lives and their families. These two boys are able to look at each other instead of just seeing ethnicity or politics. Bruno does ask Shmuel “Why are you in there?” Shmuel replies “I’m a Jew”. As far as Bruno knew this was his first encounter with a Jewish person and he didn’t believe everything he heard others say about them. He liked Shmuel, he was his friend.

We have had numerous films that deal with the touchy subject of the Holocaust. This is the first film that actually tells it in a way that can be seen by the whole family and can serve to educate the children of today about a black spot in human history.   ‘The Boy In The Striped Pajamas’ will have your heart racing in the end of the film. I can’t tell you why, but it is culmination of this fantastic film.   Mark Herman also braves to take the view inside one of the gas chambers to show the final moments many faced at one of these camps. ‘The Boy In The Striped Pajamas’ was a wonderful film that I recommend to everyone. Parents , if your kids are ten or older, take them to see this film. It will educate them. I have a feeling when the DVD is out they will be watching it in history class at school. [Overall: 4 stars out of 5]

Festival Screening Date: Sunday, November 16 @ 12:00 noon (St Louis Art Museum)