So many Holocaust movies are sharply austere from beginning to end--it's hardly a subject of much levity. Life Is Beautiful is possibly the only Holocaust film to pull off charm, humor and gravity all in one film. The Boy In the Striped Pajamas, however, is shown from the perspective of a commander's eight-year-old son. Their new home is quite close to a concentration camp, and young Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is surrounded by confusing images (he wonders why the help is wearing "pajamas" and thinks they live on a farm) and parents who refuse to explain the reality of the situation.
A Unique Perspective
Naturally, Bruno is friendless while out in the middle of nowhere and wants to explore (against his mother's wishes). It's not long before he runs into a border of barbed wire and a small Jewish boy, Schmuel (Jack Scanlon), on the other side. There are a few haunting scenes, but they are few and far between (most often they materialize as questions Bruno innocently asks his parents--like why the chimneys were smoking and why they smelled so bad). The awkward silence his questions are met with are often more than uncomfortable in their inherent meaning. However, the film successfully refrains from being maudlin throughout, considering its topic.
Characters Won't Learn From Tragic Ending
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has a decent pace in its storytelling, and knowing it to be a Holocaust movie, there is the fear throughout as to how it will end (not historically, but rather for Bruno and his friend--and possibly his family, should viewers care much about them). It is not giving much away to say the film is not a cheery one, nor does it end on an upbeat note. The only regrettable thing about the ending is that as viewers, an audience can appreciate the meaning. It's doubtful those it affected in the story would see the truth of the situation.
A Poignant Story Worth Watching
It gets harder and harder to have intriguing, original details in story matter so often told. The unique perspective of a young boy illustrates the seemingly unfathomable facts of concentration camp life. The attempt is similar to Life is Beautiful in that it utilizes a child's eyes, but it is an altogether different film. It may not use comedy, but nor is it heavy-handed or severe in its storytelling. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is not the easiest film to watch--emotional films seldom are--but the lead performances (particularly the two boys) drive the story forward with charm and subtly, and it's one of the better films to emerge in 2008.
Margaret Burke - Margaret Burke currently resides in Boston, MA. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2000 with a BA in Radio/TV/Film and a ...
