The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The movie starts off showing an eight year old boy named Bruno coming home and finding out that his father, who is a soldier, has gotten a promotion, and that his whole family is moving to the country side. The family then throws a big going away party. A little later in the movie, the family arrives in their new home. It is apparent that Bruno misses playing with his friends at his old home. He asks his mother if he can play with the children on the farm that he saw from his bedroom window. He then tells his mother that all the famers are strange, because they all wear pajamas. His mother then rushes out of the room without a response. Bruno then goes to his father and asks why the farmers wear pajamas. His father responds that the farmers are not really people, and that he cannot play with them. Bruno is tired of playing by himself one day and decides to go exploring. As he tries to go to the back garden, his mother spots him from the window, and tells him that going to the back is off limits.
A little later in the movie, Bruno goes exploring again, but this time he succeeds in getting to the back of the yard. While fighting imaginary creatures in the forest, Bruno comes upon a fence. On the other side of the fence, is a boy named Shmuel, who is the same age as Bruno. Bruno goes to visits Shmuel every day. One day Shmuel tells Bruno that he is a Jew. Bruno not understanding Shmuel goes home. Later, his tutor teaches Bruno and his sister that all Jews are evil, and that they are the cause of all the problems. Also later in the movie, Bruno’s grandfather comes to visit. During their family dinner, Pavil spills wine on the table, and a young soldier drags him out the door and beats him up. That night Bruno asks his sister about the farm. She explains to him that it is not a farm, but a working camp for Jews. She says that they are put in there because they are evil, and are the reason that Germany lost the war. The next day, Bruno comes in and sees Shmuel in his house cleaning glasses. He then gives Shmuel food. While Shmuel is eating, the young soldier comes in and yells at Shmuel for stealing food, and talking to Bruno. When asked if Bruno knew Shmuel, Bruno lies and says the he just walked in and saw Shmuel “helping himself.” Bruno feeling guilty goes to the fence where Shmuel and him always meet, and finds that Shmuel is not there. Bruno keeps going to the camp, but Shmuel is never there. One day Bruno goes to the camp and sees the Shmuel has a black eye. He apologizes for lying, and Shmuel and he decided that they are still friends. Later in the movie, Shmuel says that he can’t find his father. Bruno also says that he is leaving soon. Bruno says that he wants to help Shmuel find his dad to make up for lying to the young soldier. The boys then make a plan for Bruno to dig under the fence, and dress in the pajamas so he can blend in and help Shmuel find his dad. The next day the boys commence their plan. When Bruno gets into the camp, he is horrified to see that the camp isn’t at all like the short film showed it was. As the boys are looking for Shmues dad, they are gathered with all the other Jews, and are told to take off their clothes, because they are going to take showers. Bruno’s family soon discovers that Bruno is missing, so Bruno’s dad and his men search for him. Meanwhile, a soldier pours some gas pellets into the gas chamber.
Overall this was a very sad story. I truly felt Shmuel and Pevil’s pain. It also made me furious at Bruno’s dad, and how he just went along with everything that was happening. He was too wrapped up in hating the Jews and following orders that he tore his family apart. He neglected Bruno and his sister. Though this movie was very sad, I thought it really showed what happened in concentration camps. I also liked how it showed people basically being brainwashed into thinking that what they were doing to Jewish people was ok.
Comments
Excellent movie summary and review! It is a extremely sad movie but really hits how terrible the Holocaust was.