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5/10/2014

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) - Powerful Holocaust story seen through the eyes of an 8 year-old German boy



+ Best War Movie of the Year

The poster for Mark Herman's The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas seems to promise something more hopeful than is the case


QUICK REVIEW:

Bruno is 8, when his parents decide to move the family because of his father's soldier-job. The new place is very boring, but Bruno does meet another boy behind a fence with a weird name, and they become friends.
Outstanding film; a new concentration camp story, achieved to powerful effect in non-epic playtime (just 94 minutes).
Fine performances from David Thewlis (The New World (2005)) and Vera Farmiga (The Departed (2006)); particularly Asa Butterfield (Hugo (2011)) is magnificent, slightly gawky and innocent the movie through. Jack Scanlon (Married Single Other, TV (2010)), who plays the Jewish boy Shmuel, is also good.
Very depressing and tragic film, - a real heart-breaker, but, of course, no serious Holocaust-film could be anything else.
British director Mark Herman (Little Voice (1998)) seems to have possibly ended his career with Pyjamas, an awesome end for any director. 

Related posts:

 

2008 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

2008 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2008 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
2008 in films - according to Film Excess

The amazing Asa Butterfield offers us a fresh, outside look on Holocaust, - that of an 8 year-old boy, - in Mark Herman's The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Watch the affecting trailer here

Budget: 12.5 mil. $
Box office: 20.4 mil. $
= Minor hit

What do you think of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?
Have you seen other movies by Mark Herman, and if so, how were they?

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