Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us.|May. 07, 2008|United Kingdom | United States|94 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Drama;War
Description: “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas,” released in 2008, tells the story of Bruno, a young boy living in Berlin during World War II under Nazi rule. When his father, Ralf, a soldier, is promoted, the family moves to the countryside in occupied Poland. Isolated and lonely, Bruno becomes curious about the “farm” nearby, which is actually a concentration camp. Forbidden to explore, Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the camp’s barbed wire fence, unaware of the grim reality surrounding him.
Bruno’s tutor, Mr. Liszt, promotes antisemitic Nazi propaganda, while Bruno’s sister, Gretel, becomes increasingly fanatical in her support for the regime. Bruno, however, is puzzled as he finds their Jewish servant, Pavel, to be kind and unlike the stereotypes taught in his lessons. As Bruno and Shmuel’s friendship grows, their innocence contrasts with the horrors of the camp.
Bruno’s mother, Elsa, discovers the truth about Ralf’s role in the camp after learning about the burning bodies in the chimneys. Meanwhile, tensions rise when Lieutenant Kotler, a family acquaintance, reveals his father’s opposition to the Nazi regime, leading to a violent outburst. The story unfolds as Bruno’s naivety collides with the harsh world around him, highlighting the tragedy of innocence lost in a time of unspeakable cruelty.
Cast director: Mark Herman
Cast actor: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, David Hayman, Sheila Hancock, Cara Horgan, Richard Johnson, Amber Beattie
Original name: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas