The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is an eight year old boy and son of a German soldier, (David Thewlis) who is sent to run a concentration camp in the height of the Second World War. Due to this he moves his whole family to a house near one of the camps. After exploring one day Bruno finds a boy called Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) sitting in the camp and makes friends with him. As the film unwinds we see the harsh realities of World War 2 through the eyes of two eight year old boys.

To say this film was awesome is the understatement of the century. It has been a long while since I have seen a film that moved me as much as this one did.

Although there have been many war films, I once heard it said that there is no story that has been done too many times as long as you find a new angle to see it. This film was that, it was harsh, truthful, rough and didn’t pull any punches when talking about the brutality that was used in the concentration camps at that time. But every plot turn we saw was seen through the eyes of Bruno; an eight year old boy who for the main part of the film thinks he’s living next door to a farm whose occupants seem to be wearing strange pyjamas.

With this angle we never see blatant portrayals of the torture that the Jews had to endure but rather subtle hints that leaves you chilled to the bone. It is so beautifully done that I spent two or so hours with my mouth wide open and my body completely tense.

I could not find one thing wrong with this film. With an amazing script, stunning performances from all, inspired directing and an almighty film score I was amazed from beginning to end. I mean this to the point where I almost want to make it my life mission to get every person I know to see it. As far as I’m concerned there is no reason for you not to see this and if there is just one film you see this year, make sure it’s this one. An almighty five faces from me.