The Plot
A German soldier's family comprising of the man, the wife and 2 kids move out of their Berlin home to a countryside as the soldier gets a promotion in the army ranks. His new job is regarding terminating Jews at the concentration camp that is located right behind their home. A chimney that spews out the ugly smoke from burning the Jews alive, is a shocking indicator of the job that he does.
The daughter doesn't have trouble in fitting in to the new scenario. But the wife is really disturbed by how heartless her husband has become. The young 8 yr old boy Bruno due to sheer boredom, decides to explore what is there behind his house and he befriends another 8 yr old Jewish boy Shmuel,who is on the other side of the barbed wire at the concentration camp.
In the end, when the mom and the 2 kids are about to be moved to Heidelberg due to the mom's sheer discomfort with this place and her husband's work, Bruno and Shmuel are busy in the camp looking for Shmuel's lost father. Bruno digs his way through to the other side to help his dear friend. What happens then is a shocking climax that is quite brutal
Hits
- The 2 kids are so natural and behave rather than act
- Vera Farmiga as the conscious and disturbed mom is very emotive and impressive.
- Just the idea behind the friendship between a young German and a young Jew from across the barbed wires is very touching. The scene where they play chess is quite emotional.
- James Horner dazzles with his use of strings, piano and the chorus.
Misses
- Though the movie is very touching, it is quite predictable from the outset
VERDICT
A different take on the atrocities committed by the Germans on the Jews, told through the eyes of two 8 yr old boys. MUST WATCH
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