“The Boy In Striped Pyjamas” (2008) Review & Analysis

— About the film —

Set in World War II, the movie follows the life of Bruno, who is unaware of the war around him. We watch through the innocent eyes of Bruno who is focused on exploring the areas around his new house, before forging a friendship with one of the war hostages.

— Film Analysis —

War

This was the theme of the whole film, basically. One of the most obvious ways the film showed this theme was through the difference in the dressing of characters. Bruno and his family were always dressed in a much cleaner, modern set of clothing. They were also constantly changing outfits. Compared to them, the people in the concentration camp always wore dirty, oversized striped pyjamas.

Another obvious way the film portrayed this theme was through the setting of the film. While Bruno was always surrounded by greenery and had the ability to visit wherever he wanted, Shmuel was always stuck behind the wired fence.

These showed the difference in lifestyle between the two boys, hinting toward the fact that Shmuel was forced to live a life that prohibited him from feeling the freedom that Bruno had.

Innocence

Throughout the film, Bruno was unaware of the war. For example, Bruno was unaware of Shmuel’s situation and constantly tried to get close to Shmuel. Even after his friendship with Shmuel, he was still vaguing unaware of the soldiers’ actions. He watched the propaganda film that was playing in the room and genuinely thought that the camp situation was good. Initially, he also thought that the camp was a farm.

All of these showed that Bruno was unaware of the evil happenings around him. His innocence blinded the way he view the world around him, causing him to believe in something that is utterly different.

Propaganda

This could be seen through the character of Bruno’s sister.

At the beginning of the film, she loved playing with dolls. After the family moved to Berlin, she started putting the dolls away and replaced them with pictures of soldiers.

Another example was shown not through Bruno’s sister, but through the video watched by the soldiers and Bruno’s father, which portrayed the environment of the concentration camp to be way better than in reality.

All of these proved to show that the soldiers were trying to prove a point, trying to justify that their killings and torturing of the innocent were for the better and that their actions weren’t that bad. They were trying to brainwash those who have yet to believe in their power.

Karma

This was shown at the ending of the film where Bruno entered the chamber with Shmuel before getting killed. The chamber was used on Jews and Bruno’s mother found out about it one day as she was leaving the house. While she tried to convince her husband to stop killing and torturing the Jews, her husband didn’t listen. Eventually, towards the final act of the film, Bruno ended up following Shmuel into the camp in hopes to help him find his dad, yet ended up being forced alongside other Jews to enter the chamber before dying.

This proves that what goes around, comes around. As Bruno’s father was constantly torturing and killing the Jewish, it is karma and punishment for Bruno’s father to have a taste of his own medicine, to feel what it was like to have a loved one dying.

— Overall Review —

Overall, this was probably one of my favourite movies.

The ending of the film was so sad and when Bruno and Shmuel looked so innocent standing in the chamber, my heart broke for them.

I felt that the pacing of the film was great. The music, cinematography and set design were perfect too. The acting definitely enhanced the feeling of fear and sadness I felt while watching.