The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Published November 13, 2022
Film info
- Title The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
- Director Mark Herman
- Year 2008
- Run time 1hr 34m
- Genres Drama, War, History
- Tagline Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us
Bored and restless in his new home, Bruno, an innocent and naive eight year old, ignores his mother and sets off on an adventure in the woods. Soon he meets a young boy, and a surprising friendship develops. Set during World War II, this remarkable and inspiring story about the power of the human spirit will capture your heart and engage your mind.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1:55 | Ah yes, music by James Horner. I can hear that already. |
| 7:19 | “Does it still make you feel special? The uniform?” |
| 11:14 | Swapping a really nice city house for a concrete block in the country. |
| 24:11 | They must realise what an isolating experience this is for the boy. Barely allowed out, home-schooled, etc. |
| 25:53 | “You couldn’t have been much good then, if you had to practise.” Banter. |
| 30:01 | All that forest land, how could he resist exploring? |
| 36:09 | Haha, he made the density/destiny mistake from BTTF. |
| 39:34 | Pretty good acting from young Asa, there. Knowing it’s a bad thing but not really why. |
| 46:22 | It’s astonishing to think people so close to the situation couldn’t have known what was going on. |
| 51:03 | I’ve never really understood blaming people for what their family does. |
| 57:14 | BRUNO. Liar. |
| 1:02:28 | “I saw a film about the camp, and it looked so nice.” |
| 1:16:25 | Not that I want to encourage such things, but he could have dug the hole last time and covered it up. |
| 1:21:42 | “I think we’re just waiting in here until the rain stops.” Oh Bruno. |
Thoughts
The film suffers from the same problems as the book - the tone is odd, the sympathies feel misplaced, it’s a very simplistic and historically inaccurate view of the Holocaust. But the film itself is ok - Asa is incredible as the wide-eyed innocent, and that twist ending continues to pack a punch.
Rating: 2 / 5