The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

When I first heard the title of this movie, I could not for a moment make sense of what the story might be. It could be a movie involving a kid, it could be a kids' movie, or it could be a movie that has nothing to do with kids at all. I was quite confused. So when I finally began watching it, there was a lot of curiosity and interest. I mean, how many times do we come across a name like this?

The movie, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author John Boyne, received huge appreciation in the US as well as in Europe. There have been many movies based on and around the tragic events of the Holocaust, but none has been treated the way that ‘The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas’ has approached it.

Cast and crew:
Director: Mark Herman
Producer: David Heyman
Main Lead: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga

Plot:
Based on the Holocaust, the movie tells a sordid and heart-wrenching tale through the eyes of two eight-year-olds, one who is on this side of the barbed wire, while the other is inside the enclosure.
Eight-year-old Bruno lives with his mother, twelve-year-old sister and father in an extravagant mansion in the posh locality of Berlin. The young Bruno is more interested in adventures and games, hence he is still innocently unaware of all that is going on in the world outside, viz-a-viz Hitler and the extermination of Jews. Bruno’s father is an SS Officer but Bruno thinks of him just like another soldier.

After a sudden promotion, the family must move to the countryside, where Bruno finds himself locked up inside the house almost all the time, as the children have been specially instructed not to go out or talk to anyone except their own parents.

The world in and around the new house is strange for Bruno. There are guards at the gate, keeping an eye on them at all times, as if they are prisoners, but obeying their commands as if they are at their personal disposal. Once in the countryside, Bruno’s father’s demeanour undergoes a drastic change. He becomes more ruthless and intolerant and insists that Bruno be coached properly in world matters and politics, instead of wasting his time on stories and adventures.

One day, Bruno sees some people from his bedroom window. On careful examination, he finds they are wearing pyjamas in the day, and that they seem to be quite poor and sick. This confuses him. But his confusion is put to rest by the explanation that what he saw where the people who worked in the farm outside. Also, sometimes Bruno can see smoke rising in the sky outside, accompanied by a strong stench. He is told there is a factory and that the stench may be from the chemicals.

The family occasionally has helpers who come and do odd jobs like cleaning the toilets and peeling the potatoes. One such help is an old man who usually sits in the dining hall floor peeling potatoes. He is an old man who just sits there, not a word or a glance, it is almost as if he does not exist. But Bruno has noticed him and wonders why it is that he never looks at him or talks, or answers to his queries. One day, while Bruno’s parents are not around, he gets hurt and the old man immediately rushes to him, tending to him, attending his wound and telling him there is nothing to worry. Bruno’s mother returns soon after and asks him about the mishap and how did he take care of it. He replies he was a doctor earlier……..earlier to what is what the audience thinks….

On one occasion, the old man is made to wait at the occupants of the home and accidentally spills wine on at the table. After a bout of merciless beating by the furious officer, the old man is never seen again.

Many instances happen that make the audience curious to know more. You begin to understand what may be going on, and you have an inkling of what is about to come, but you never really hope that will be the case.

One fine day Bruno manages to run out of home and makes a dash towards freedom, towards the ‘farm’ that he sees from his window, where he knows there are people….hence there are bound to be children too, and he hopes to make some new friends.

On reaching the ‘farm’ Bruno realizes there is something different here, that this ‘farm’ is not like the regular farms he has seen. This farm has an electrified barbed wire fence around it, there are no crops inside, instead, it is all stony and dusty, and he sees men with shaved heads and bent heads and stooped shoulders going about, pushing wheelbarrows, all quiet…..they must be awfully tired, Bruno thinks to himself.

Just as Bruno is beginning to get impatient and wonder what is going on in this peculiar ‘farm’, he sees a boy, just the same age as him, inside the farm. The little boy has his head shaved. And there are injury marks on his face. He has the bluest eyes I have ever seen on a child, and one of the most innocent and adorable face ever.
“Wow, you live in the farm. You must be having such fun, you’re so lucky you are inside the farm.” Bruno is sad he cannot be inside the farm to explore the hidden treasures.

The boy inside does not seem to understand at first what Bruno is saying. And he is similarly amazed to see another boy on the other side of the fence.

Bruno makes a habit of returning to the ‘farm’ every day, or as many times as he can. He occasionally takes food for his friend inside the ‘farm’, as the boy inside is always hungry. The boy’s name is Shmuel and he reveals to Bruno that he is Jew.

One day, Shmuel is sent to the officer’s house to clean the house glass. When Bruno sees his friend in his house, he is very excited and gives him a piece of cake. When an officer sees crumbs on Shmuel’s lips and accuses him of stealing, the poor boy tells the officer that Bruno is a friend and gave him the cake. But Bruno is scared to death and denies knowing the boy. Bruno does not see Shmuel for many days as the boy does not turn up near the fence, and when he finally does, Bruno sees that he has a bad swollen eye that he got from the officer.

In the meanwhile, Bruno’s mother realizes what is actually going on and decides to leave with the children. The day before they are scheduled to leave, Shmuel reveals to Bruno that his father has suddenly gone missing. Seeing an opportunity to redeem himself for his giving up on his friend earlier, Bruno digs a hole under the fence and goes in.

The end of the movie is ironic and tragic in a way that I had not interpreted earlier. It is one of the most sensitive and yet one of the most hard-hitting Holocaust movies I have ever seen. For all it is worth, this is one movie I will never ever forget my entire life.

Personal Verdict: One of the most amazing movies ever made.