A Review of the Film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Holocaust is a difficult subject to present in a movie. Filmmakers have to be careful not to offend a lot of people when presenting a subject as the Holocaust. One doesn't want to offend the Jewish community by not present the exact, horrid details of the concentration camps and what happened in them, because after-all it is a very important part of Jewish history and should be treated with respect. But filmmakers also don't want to offend their public because they have decided to present a film about a terrible event in human history. If you make the film too graphic in its truthfulness, then you risk alienating the average movie-goer.

"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is a film that walks the tight-rope of what its presenting, but doesn't fall off on either side. It respects Jewish history and sentiments about how the Holocaust should be portrayed in film and leaves no ambiguity about the fact that it remains a terrible scar on history. But the film also respects its viewers by not being too graphic about the film's subject matter. The film depicts what happened in the concentration camps, but the viewer is not faced with the aftermath of the carnage. But make no mistake, the lack of visible bodies does not lessen the impact of the film.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Bruno, an eight year old German boy. He is the son of the camp's commandant. Bruno isn't aware that the "farm" he sees just beyond the woods from his bedroom window is not a farm, but a concentration camp. Having no real friends in his new area, Bruno goes exploring and ends up at the fence that surrounds the camp. On the other side of the fence a young inmate named Shmuel, also eight years old, is sitting with his head down.

The boys strike up an improbable friendship that has its typical ups and downs. You also learn through the movie that not all Germans were aware of the extermination of the Jews during the Holocaust. When Bruno's mother, the wife of the commandant, learns of exactly what's happening in the camp, she has a nervous breakdown. All of this leads to the climax of the film, which I will not disclose. The only thing I can say about this movie is that it definitely isn't for young children, but I would recommend that teenagers who are in the midst of their Holocaust studies watch this movie and that adults should watch it as well.

The movie is very emotionally involving and I found myself crying at the end of the film. While some of its plot devices are predictable, they don't distract from the impact and message of the film. The cast is comprised of English-speaking actors and therefore allows its message to be conveyed even further. In my opinion "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" will go down as the one of the best films dealing with the Holocaust. I give it five out of five stars.