Eight-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield) moves with his parents, Ralf (David Thewlis) and Elsa (Vera Farmiga) from Berlin to Poland in the early 1940s. His father has a new job – a promotion. While he doesn’t want his family to know the truth of his job – kommandant of a Jewish death camp – he is proud of his contribution to the Father Land.
Young Bruno is bored at their new home as he must stay within the fenced and guarded yard. But eventually he finds his way out and romps in the woods in little boy play. He’s also looking for the “farm” that he can see from an upstairs window.
Upon reaching the “farm” – enclosed by electrified barbed wire, Bruno makes friends with a little boy on the other side of the fence. A little boy wearing odd striped pajamas. The boy, Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), and Bruno become fast friends and Bruno visits him nearly every day.
But the reality of Nazi annihilation of the Jews is ever at the surface, even if the boys don’t comprehend it.
Also appearing are Amber Beattie as Bruno’s sister Gretel; Rupert Friend as the brutal Lt. Kotler; and David Heyman as the Jewish doctor who is reduced to peeling potatoes and gardening within the family’s compound.
Directed by Mark Herman.
Run time: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Rated PG-13.
My personal rating: A
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