Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” doesn’t just explore the Holocaust in an innovative fashion, but it forces us to explore ourselves; who we are, where we stand morally and most importantly, why we feel we need to watch a film of this subject matter when we claim to know so much about the beyond tragic event prior to stepping foot in the theater? Its’ not so much a movie-going experience as it is a chance to do a little soul searching and come the end credits, we find out just how much the film has effected us.

Mark Herman’s direction is breathtaking. At times it seems we know exactly where the film is taking us and the predictability is almost aggravating. Then, we’re thrown into a loop and once again just as mind-boggled as we were before the start of the movie. This particular style form Herman never seizes to fail. While the script, adapted for film by David Heyman, gets a lot of the credit for keeping the viewer refreshed, Herman is clearly the guy pulling the strings. His provocative direction is mystifying but much appreciated.

While it’d be more comforting to declare it a flawless picture, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” has a few problematic elements that are hard to bypass so simply. For example, while the characters are compelling and the actors portraying them are remarkable, their development lacked depth. The runtime is undoubtedly fault. The characters had to be introduced rather quickly in order to ensure enough space was left for the central story-line to unravel. Whilst the picture as a whole proves to be captivating, had we gotten to know our characters a tad bit more, there’s no denying the final product would have been much more effective.

A less noticeable flaw involves the language. It’s probably safe to assume most viewers who have or who are planning to see “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” would have been drawn away had the characters spoken a language other than English. It seems a bit odd, however, that English is the primary language when the film unfolds in a German setting. Nevertheless, this isn’t an aspect that’ll be a distraction, although it may raise a few eyebrows from the most pickiest of viewers.

The final verdict is in. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is a wonderfully told, yet tear-jerking movie-going experience with a powerful, jaw-dropping ending that’ll leave viewers baffled. It sends a significant message that is heart-felt and a true eye-opener. Simply put, it’s an unforgettable triumph and one of the best pictures to grace the screen all year!