Movie 131: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Bruno’s father is a Nazi officer, and when he gets a transfer to a new job Bruno has to leave his friends in Berlin behind. From his new window he can see a farm, and asks if he can go and play with the children there. He’s told no. But Bruno loves to explore, and he’s curious about why they all wear pyjamas

Yeah, you know what the farm is. I know what the farm is. Bruno doesn’t to start with.

This is a double threat movie really as its both heart warming and really heart breaking in equal measure. The friendship between a little Jewish boy and a little German boy who both don’t quite get how horrific everything is, though the Jew is obviously a bit more in touch with reality, is very touching.

Through the course of the movie we see both sides of the coin. The German’s who are opposed to what’s happening, and the ones who buy the “Jews are filth” propaganda. And we see it in action as Bruno’s big sister changes dramatically because of a crush on a soldier.

This isn’t exactly an easy watch at times, but its not as hard as I thought it might be. The characters are very well drawn, not really falling in to clichés too much, and the acting across the board is great. It’s also remarkably well balanced, though the only people who think what’s going on is wrong are women. Discounting Bruno as he doesn’t have a clue.

It’s a movie about friendship and the lies that parents tell to protect their children. It should also probably be shown to everyone in school.

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