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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Movie Spotlight : The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) @ 1:52 PM

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

Plot Summary: Young Bruno lives a wealthy lifestyle in prewar Germany along with his mother, elder sister, and SS Commandant father. The family relocates to the countryside where his father is assigned to take command a prison camp. A few days later, Bruno befriends another youth, strangely dressed in striped pajamas, named Shmuel who lives behind an electrified fence. Bruno will soon find out that he is not permitted to befriend his new friend as he is a Jew, and that the neighboring yard is actually a prison camp for Jews awaiting extermination.



“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.” -John Betjemen.

My Thoughts: If you want a movie to break your heart, then watch this. I'm not going to lie to you. It's sad.

The quote above is the quote that flashes before the movie starts and it's a perfect explanation of what this movie is about. As the audience, you watch the movie through the eyes of Bruno, the son of a German commander. Bruno is completely clueless to the war and what is happening to the Jewish people. You watch this movie completely through his eyes. In fact, the title, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, alludes to Bruno's observations of "the strange people in that camp next door, Mommy, and why do they wear those weird striped pyjamas?". Bruno is curious about the 'strange farm' with the 'strange electric fences'.

He meets Schmuel, a Jewish boy who lives 'behind the electric fence' and wears the same striped pyjamas that the other 'neighbors' wear. Bruno is intrigued by Schmuel and his weird name and weird clothing and wonders why he isn't allowed to play with him.



Bruno: I'm Bruno.
Shmuel: Shmuel.
Bruno: Sorry?
Shmuel: I'm Shmuel.
Bruno: That's your name? I've never heard of anyone called that before.
Shmuel: I've never heard of anyone called Bruno.


The friendship itself is heartbreaking because you can see a slow realization to both of them that something isn't quite right. Another interesting aspect of this film is the relationship between Bruno and his father, and also how the rest of his family deals with the father.

Grade: A-. It has its flaws but overall is a very moving film. The ending is sad so bring tissues.


Bruno: We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that?

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