The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Link to the offical site (http://thefilmfactory.co.uk/boy/)

Is anybody else excited about this movie? It's not out in Australia yet but it's been out for a while in the UK and America I think?

The Book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_boy_in_the_striped_pyjamas) is wonderful and won several awards.

I'm going to see it the day after tomorrow actually.
A lot of my friends have been and they say it's wonderful. I can't wait to see it, people are saying it's the film of the year in our national newspapers.

The book was outstanding, and I think they stayed very true to it.

I know it sounds awful, but I can't wait to see the film. :shrug:

I'm going to see it the day after tomorrow actually.
A lot of my friends have been and they say it's wonderful. I can't wait to see it, people are saying it's the film of the year in our national newspapers.

The book was outstanding, and I think they stayed very true to it.

I know it sounds awful, but I can't wait to see the film. :shrug:

It doesn't sound awful. It's terrible subject matter but a beautiful story.

I can't find out when it is released in Australia. Will you tell me what you think of it?

It doesn't sound awful. It's terrible subject matter but a beautiful story.

I can't find out when it is released in Australia. Will you tell me what you think of it?

Of course I will. It would be awful if you took such an interest and never got to see it. Is it likely to be released there at all? I'll come here on Sunday evening when I'm home from the cinema, and I'll spill the beans on it.

Everyone so far that I've spoken with about it says it's fantastic. A real tribute to the book and to the time, apparently.

I read the book last year, and had a hard time fighting tears- there's no shortage of stories about the Holocaust, but this was definitely a new take on it. And now I find the movie stars David Thewlis- it looks like a must-see, only it's hard to get used to the idea of German characters (as they are in the story) with British accents!
I don't think this film will get a theatrical release in my country unless it gets an Oscar or is a huge box-office hit, but that's sad- I do want to see it.

Apparently it will be out in Australia, but I can't find out when :(

I've checked in loads of separate places, but I can't find Australia at all... It's being released in Germany next April, so you might have to wait a really long time for it, which is such a pity. I'll keep looking though!

I'm not going tonight, my trip has been delayed till Tuesday :grumble:, but as soon as I see it, you'll be the first to know I figure!

Ooh, it has some really good ratings actually, now that I'm looking around a bit more...

Guys, it was absolutely wonderful. I would recommend it to anybody, anytime, any place. I was astounded and dazzled by this film. MD, you have to see it. David Thewlis is a gift to the acting world, and I have never felt so lost after watching a movie.

See, here's the thing, and I won't post spoilers.

When the film ended in it's way, the lights came up ever before the credits started, and nobody moved. Nobody said a word, nobody tittered, no chatter broke out. There was nothing but the names on a black background with no movement on the screen, soft music playing over it. Nobody in the entire cinema moved for about a minute and a half. It's taken me an hour to work out why, but I think I have it. Nobody wanted to be the person to stand up and talk. Nobody wanted to sob, even though there were tears galore. Nobody wanted to move because to move meant you were turning your back on such awfulness and looking away.

After three minutes, the people at the back filtered out. I am not exaggerating, and I am not making fun. Three minutes. I know because I could see the clock on the phone of the woman next to me.

I moved after five. Now, I had not cried for the entire film, I hadn't. It just didn't work that way on me, for the first time ever. I had expected hysterics from me, but it never happened. I was just so shocked, so dumbstruck, by this absolutely beautiful orchestration of the worst thing in the world- that I couldn't respond at all.

It was only afterward, as I walked back up the stairs to get out, and I passed by parents hugging their children and assuring them that such things never happen- that I copped onto myself. I wanted to scream at them, "yes it did! And yes it does! Things like this happen everyday but we're all too stupid and too ignorant to sit up and notice!". But still, no tears. I left the theatre and I kid you not, I could barely walk I was so upset. Tears streamed down my face and I had to stop moving. I was not the only person in that state.

It was as though, for all the beauty and all the imagery of the film, none of which ever bordered on melodrama, I had entered the cinema with the same ignorance of the children in the story- people with no idea of what they were about to witness, be part of, and never ever forget.

The focus wasn't on the costumes, the history, the periphery characters. The focus was on Bruno and what he saw and why he couldn't understand it. And I wished, I so wished, for one brief second, that he would snap out of it and realise! And then I wished that instead, my knowledge would be replaced with that innocence.

I felt so utterly alone, that for the best part of 70 years, we've talked about this as facts and figures (of which there were none in the film), without ever focusing on the human element. 8 million people died in the Holocaust. That's the entire population of my country, and then half that again. And that was all I was thinking as the final long shot faded into darkness and became forever silent. And then I thought of the strange fact that birds don't even fly over the old camps anymore. And then I thought that it wasn't so strange after all.

I was so proud to stand in a hallway and cry at something we deign to forget more often that not. I was ashamed though, for the people inside who told their crying kids that such a thing would never happen in this world. Because it did, and that was the entire point of this film. What was around the characters was unimportant (though the shots, the film qualities, the lack of colour saturation, the authenticity- were perfect), but what was inside them was the definition of that time.

I really hope that this is the film people show their children, if only to make them cry, and then I hope they say "things like that do happen". Because otherwise, its point is lost. I hope that all brings across how awesome the film is, because I wanted to explain it without spoiling.

I'm very interested to see this film (it doesn't come out in the US until December). Thanks to vampiricduck for the review- when a performance strikes the audience into silence, you know something powerful has jsut taken place.

I hope that all brings across how awesome the film is, because I wanted to explain it without spoiling.

That was an amazing recollection of your reaction to the film. It makes me want to see it even more. Thankyou for sharing it :)

That was an amazing recollection of your reaction to the film. It makes me want to see it even more. Thankyou for sharing it :)

Well, it was written for you and now it's being adapted for a newspaper, so thanks for letting me share! :)

I really do believe everything I wrote up there. I have never ever had that sort of experience in a film, of any sort or type. It was so surreal. And I had read in a film magazine that the child actors had expressed sorrow and become upset when the time came to shoot the final scenes. Their parents were present for the filming of those in particular, and I re read that yesterday and thought- Fair enough, they did a great job- but in real time, the parents were never there.. It really is a terrific film, totally throwing itself out there. Even the "Heil Hitler" salute is used with caution and care, which impressed me. The worst part was during the opening, when David Thewlis' name flashed up on screen in front of the Swastika flag. I got a bit of a jarring shock, because that's not what you expect. And nor is that spoiling... it's the opening shot! :lol:

I'm very interested to see this film (it doesn't come out in the US until December). Thanks to vampiricduck for the review- when a performance strikes the audience into silence, you know something powerful has jsut taken place.

You're welcome and I so definitely agree. I just got the impression from everybody that it was something none of them would forget. December isn't too far away, but I do think it will be an important film- much the same way as it was an important book. :tu:

I want to see this movie. :sigh: It hasn't come to theatres here yet. I didn't know it was a book until reading this thread. I'll have to look for it.

I'm still waiting for it to come out here as well :sigh:

I'm still waiting for it to come out here as well :sigh:

I hate it when they do that. Its so aggravating, just play it at the same time in all theatres!! :grumble:

I think I heard a release date of March 26th, 2009 for an Australian release date, but as I recall, that was from a site called the Cinematic Intelligence Agency. It also lists Cirque du Freak and Duplicity as being released in the same month. If either of those seem viable dates, then perhaps the one for Boy in the Stiped Pyjamas is also correct.

I've read the book (which is extremely powerful) but missed the film when it came out here in the UK. :whistle:

I was reluctant to go and see it, to be honest, because I just didn't think I could cope with the subject matter from a child's point of view ... too horribly upsetting. It was difficult enough watching Polanski's The Pianist (which is in some ways even more harrowing than Spielberg's Schindler's List) and that is all with adult characters.

I recently went to see the Holocaust Exhibition at London's Imperial War Museum ... excellent exhibition, and devastating, of course.

I don't find the book particularly realistic -- surely Bruno and Shmuel's secret friendship would have been discovered by the powers that be long before, and both children punished for it -- but a work of art doesn't have to be realistic in order to make a powerful point. The story is all about the destruction of innocence, and it packs a huge punch.

I felt that Bruno's death was a sort of retributive justice for his father's complicity with the regime. Honestly, it was like Bruno had been murdered by his father. It was a terrible ending, but I had no sympathy for Bruno's father: it was frightful for him to lose his son that way, but he'd had no qualms about ordering the mass murder of Jewish children in the camp, so he brought down on himself the horror that he had inflicted on so many others. As soon as the boys agreed that Bruno would borrow a camp uniform, I knew immediately how the story would end. :sigh:

I might rent or buy the DVD.

It is worth watching Pearl. But take a big breath first, because it isn't easy. It was honestly more harrowing than Schindler's List, which at least offered the view of someone who willingly, ably and defensibly fought back. But Bruno does not do that- and I agree with what you posted in the spoiler tags too. There's no other way, imo, to look at that. And I also feel that apathetic sense of "no sympathy" that you do. :agree:. That's wonderfully brought across in the film also, by the way.

The thing about it was that, even if you did guess the ending of the book, it still hit you hard. Seeing it on film was just... awful. I don't know if you read my review above, but I got a distinct sense that all was lost and the delayed reaction, when it hit, was astonishingly hard to cope with while I found the way to my car.

As you say, a work of art doesn't need to be realistic for it to work its magic. And this film definitely needs no introductions. It's on my Oscars list in the Wishful Thinking zone, because it had such a profound effect on everyone I spoke to. On the night I saw it, strangers hugged each other in the hall outside the screen, just to show that they too knew what they had walked away from. It was honestly one of the best things I've witnessed.

I was reluctant to go and see it, to be honest, because I just didn't think I could cope with the subject matter from a child's point of view ... too horribly upsetting.

:agree: I know that when I, eventually, see it I'm going to have to be in the right frame of mind. I was upset for days after I'd read the book but I could still appreciate what a fine piece of writing it was.

Still no sign of it being released here though.

I've read the book (which is extremely powerful) but missed the film when it came out here in the UK. :whistle:

I was reluctant to go and see it, to be honest, because I just didn't think I could cope with the subject matter from a child's point of view ... too horribly upsetting. It was difficult enough watching Polanski's The Pianist (which is in some ways even more harrowing than Spielberg's Schindler's List) and that is all with adult characters.

I recently went to see the Holocaust Exhibition at London's Imperial War Museum ... excellent exhibition, and devastating, of course.

I don't find the book particularly realistic -- surely Bruno and Shmuel's secret friendship would have been discovered by the powers that be long before, and both children punished for it -- but a work of art doesn't have to be realistic in order to make a powerful point. The story is all about the destruction of innocence, and it packs a huge punch.


I might rent or buy the DVD.


I agree with what you say in the spoiler tags about Brunos' father, the irony of it is terrible, yet I feel that the conclusion is the fathers' own fault. The moment of realisation on the part of Brunos' family is hard to watch for that reason And it does pack a huge punch emotionally, I was in a state of shock after seeing it, even having read the book previously.

[QUOTE=vampiricduck;5189549]It is worth watching Pearl. But take a big breath first, because it isn't easy. It was honestly more harrowing than Schindler's List, which at least offered the view of someone who willingly, ably and defensibly fought back. But Bruno does not do that- and I agree with what you posted in the spoiler tags too. There's no other way, imo, to look at that. And I also feel that apathetic sense of "no sympathy" that you do. :agree:. That's wonderfully brought across in the film also, by the way.


I agree, it was harder to watch than Schindlers' List, I think because it centred on children, on the destruction of innocence, of those unaware of the full extent of what is happening until it is too late. As you say, at least there was some sense of hope to Schindlers' List.

I agree with what you say in the spoiler tags about Brunos' father, the irony of it is terrible, yet I feel that the conclusion is the fathers' own fault. The moment of realisation on the part of Brunos' family is hard to watch for that reason And it does pack a huge punch emotionally, I was in a state of shock after seeing it, even having read the book previously.

I agree, it was harder to watch than Schindlers' List, I think because it centred on children, on the destruction of innocence, of those unaware of the full extent of what is happening until it is too late. As you say, at least there was some sense of hope to Schindlers' List.

Yes, the last ten minutes are particularly hard to watch. It's easy enough to pick up on what's about to happen, but you never realise how awful it's going to be. The family's reaction is simply gut wrenching. The mother and sister, entirely uncaring about their clothes or the war effort, just lost on the ground, and the father's roar of ultimate destruction.. I felt so terribly lost during it, because of that deep irony. This was what happened to other people, and yet for some reason, we count those families as figures rather than as living breathing souls. The thing is that John Boyne made us look at it from the harsher point of view, and yet we still see the degradation of what occurred as opposed to the traditional view of "the jew" lost in translation and partially forgotten. Even with the political background of the film and the military position of the family, it's evident to how much we do care that it still strikes us very deeply.

I am particular waiting for this movie.

So far it looks absolutely great, and I love usaully Nazi movies (Obviously XD)

But no idea when it will coming out here.:grumble:

Where are you? I might be able to work it out?

It's so worth viewing. I imagine that it might be due out on DVD here soon enough, but I can't be sure. It was very popular, so I can see that happening, and war films usually go down very well in Ireland. For reasons unknown, when we deliberately were neutral.... :shrug:

Either which way, I know that it is slated for release in other places soon enough, so you might get lucky!

I read in Australia's EMPIRE Magazine that the film has an ETA of April 23rd!

Yay! Empire are usually a rather fantastic source for that, I'm a long time fan, so this is really great news. It's a long time away, but at least now there's something to wait for, and you won't be left wondering when it's due! :D

seen it very well acted never read the book but without giving any thing away the ending i did not expect. i love all war era movies and nazi jew movies, even though these are some of the most depressing movies on the planet. people need to be remined of how evil hitler and most of his armys were. oh one more thing one thing i cant stand is actors who play someone say german and are speaking with there english accents they are susposed to be acting stop talking how you talk and talk how the person your playing would. also hated valkrye for this reason and that tom cruize is crazy

I finally bought this movie today and got done watching it. It simply blew me away; it was heart-wrenching and touching. The friendship between the two boys was beyond what I was expecting. The ending took me by surprise and it was quite sad. I wattched the making afterward, and they say it follows the book without a doubt. It makes me want to read it even more. :tu:

The book is beautiful. I haven't seen the movie yet so I can't comment but the book definitely made me cry.

I appreciated the ending of the book, it was a very fluid and fast thing to read. The film is, without spoiling it for you, not that fluid at all and to be honest, that's a good thing. It's just jarring and incomprehensible. The aesthetic value of the book definitely carries over to the film. Without a doubt, it's very like the story the book conveys.

I will never forget watching the film. There are elements of the book that I don't quite remember, but the cultural context and general viewpoint of the film is a secluded, realistic and poignant one to the extent that it almost overshadows the book.

I don't think I will ever be able to either read or watch it again. For me it was much worse than the Green Mile, which up until now was the film I was most troubled by!

I don't think I will ever be able to either read or watch it again. For me it was much worse than the Green Mile, which up until now was the film I was most troubled by!


What do you mean? :hmm:

Well, the Green Mile always upsets me, it touches me so much that I can't watch it all that often, I get too upset! :lol:, crying in front of the television isn't my best night in! :D

Know what I mean now? I think that the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is actually just as sad in its own way, and just as deeply affecting given its subject matter.

Well, the Green Mile always upsets me, it touches me so much that I can't watch it all that often, I get too upset! :lol:, crying in front of the television isn't my best night in! :D

Know what I mean now? I think that the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is actually just as sad in its own way, and just as deeply affecting given its subject matter.

I know exactly what you mean about The Green Mile.

I'm still waiting to see it here :sigh:

Yeah, I'm kind of excited. I saw the preview and at first had this fleeting thought that I'm kind of over war movies, but by the end of the preview I was like, wait a minute, if it's made well, war movies are so powerful and beautiful.

Yeah, I'm kind of excited. I saw the preview and at first had this fleeting thought that I'm kind of over war movies, but by the end of the preview I was like, wait a minute, if it's made well, war movies are so powerful and beautiful.

Yes, I'm inclined to agree with you. Generally speaking I'm a big fan of the war genre, but after Saving Private Ryan, finding authenticity can be hard. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is just that bit different- this isn't a fight on a battlefield, and neither does it focus on the suffering of the prisoners in the concentration camp. It's a story about family and innocence- and the utter corruption of everything good in the world.

I wouldn't classify it as a war film; I just don't think I could.

Yes, I'm inclined to agree with you. Generally speaking I'm a big fan of the war genre, but after Saving Private Ryan, finding authenticity can be hard. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is just that bit different- this isn't a fight on a battlefield, and neither does it focus on the suffering of the prisoners in the concentration camp. It's a story about family and innocence- and the utter corruption of everything good in the world.

I wouldn't classify it as a war film; I just don't think I could.

Yeah, I feel the same about The Reader too.

Have you seen Valkyrie? I thought it was pretty interesting. For someone kind of strange in real life, Tom Cruise sure makes some good movies :cool::p

Yup, I saw Valkyrie. We have a thread about it, here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=119284), in fact! :D

I think there's a difference between other war films and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. You know the way Goodnight Mister Tom wasn't truly a war story? It was a story about growing up, about survival and about what was right, wrong and acceptable at the time. It was more of a social question and answer session, a quick glance into the worst parts of human history- it was not about guns on a battlefield, and that was the most important part of it. It brought us right into things that many people have experienced- life going by.

I think that the Boy in the Stripes Pyjamas does the same thing- arguably with even more courage in its convictions.

I want to read this! My friend wanted to rent it but we rented something else. Now I feel stupid!

I just saw an ad for it on the television.

vampiricduck I couldn't agree more. I think you got it spot on.

I watched it the other day and wow... what a film.

David Thewlis was very good as were the two boys who played Bruno and Shmul. I was a bit bothered that the Germans were all played by British actors though. I think it would have been more effective to film the movie IN German or at least use German accents. It took me a while to work out why a Nazi soldier had a British accent... My only other criticism is that the ending was very sudden and blunt. I honestly cant think of what else I would have ended with and it certainly left an impression but I think I would have liked for David Thewlis' character to show some kind of remorse for what he was a part of.
I loved the innocence of Bruno and how regardless what filth he was being fed he still believed Shmul was a good person. I loved their conversation about their fathers in particular. That was very touching and I think it's one of the key conversations which opened Bruno's eyes to the truth.
His mother was portrayed perfectly. The actress who played her is fantastic and the emotion she portrayed felt so real. When she was crying at the end, tears came to my eyes...

Such a powerful movie. I'm so glad it was made.

I saw it, good at first, end shocking. I exprected (David Thewlis) to have a change of mind and set all of the prisoners free.... Guess i was wrong

vampiricduck I couldn't agree more. I think you got it spot on.

I watched it the other day and wow... what a film.

David Thewlis was very good as were the two boys who played Bruno and Shmul. I was a bit bothered that the Germans were all played by British actors though. I think it would have been more effective to film the movie IN German or at least use German accents. It took me a while to work out why a Nazi soldier had a British accent... My only other criticism is that the ending was very sudden and blunt. I honestly cant think of what else I would have ended with and it certainly left an impression but I think I would have liked for David Thewlis' character to show some kind of remorse for what he was a part of.
I loved the innocence of Bruno and how regardless what filth he was being fed he still believed Shmul was a good person. I loved their conversation about their fathers in particular. That was very touching and I think it's one of the key conversations which opened Bruno's eyes to the truth.
His mother was portrayed perfectly. The actress who played her is fantastic and the emotion she portrayed felt so real. When she was crying at the end, tears came to my eyes...

Such a powerful movie. I'm so glad it was made.

You should hunt down the book if possible. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how it compares with the film.

Did you see it in a cinema? Because I thought that it had stopped playing here in Australia.

The DVD isn't for sale until September 2nd :sigh: