The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The recently released, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the next movie on my list for this series. Like with most movies, I decided to go watch this Mark Herman directed piece after viewing the trailer (watch here). However, the ending I was faced with was nothing like what I had expected. Perhaps naively I thought it would be the sort of movie that would have its share of darkness, but still find its way to a positive ending. And perhaps this thought was influenced by the knowledge that this was an adaption of a children's novel (of the same name) by John Boyne. Or perhaps I should have just read Paul Byrnes review in the Sydney Morning Herald when he let everyone else know that, "the film is terribly confronting" (read the full review). Unfortunately or fortunately however (depending on what you wanted from this film), the story starts of relatively positively and delves further and further into the darkness of the Holocaust, and never finds its way out.

"...the ending I was faced with was nothing like what I had expected."

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the story of childhood innocence within the harsh environment of a death camp in the Third Reich. Bruno is a young boy forced to move when his Nazi father takes a job in the country as a commander of the 'farm' (as Bruno interprets it). Bruno defies his parents' orders to stay away from the 'farm' and meets a young boy called Shmuel through the electric fence surrounding the camp. The boys forge a secret relationship, talking and playing through the fence, unknowing as to why they are being kept apart.

The movie theatre I was in remained silent until the end of the closing credits when i went to see this film. And, from what I can tell from IMDb user comments, we weren't the only screening to experience this. It was reassuring to know I wasn't the only one shocked by this film. Without ruining the movie for you (though if you delve too far into any user comments online someone else will), the utter tragic nature of the ending will just leave you speechless.

"It was reassuring to know I wasn't the only one shocked by this film."

Through excellent cinematography and scenery, quality acting, and a particularly dramatic score, this film evokes an array of emotions. I believe it was made to make you feel something. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas made me really think about and question human behaviour, and contemplate the evil that has been committed in this world. The way the audience sees through Bruno's perspective accentuates the horror of Nazi atrocities, as we watch a child try to understand something dark and disturbing that is out of comprehension.

The way this story and Herman's screenplay delves into childhood innocence and morality will tug at the heart strings of most viewers.