Best friends for life - that's what the two boys Bruno and Shmuel were determined to be.
This film is about the sorrowful events in history seen through the eyes of a child. The Holocaust as told from the perspective of an 8-year old boy and without the vivid display of the horrors of the time.
Innocent, unafraid, quite trusting that not all Jews are "bad", not everyone in this world is "evil" as he was told; what could be more simple than that coming from a child. Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, all he saw was the friendship he could forge with Shmuel who was on the other side of the fence which he calls "the farm". The forbidden friendship between these two boys became so strong, they held hands together and nothing can persuade them to let go. Till the end.
The story behind the film is horrific but the film is quite fascinating. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas portrayed none of the scenes we can't get out of our minds after watching Life is Beautiful or Schindler's List. One lesson I learned from this movie is the strength of ties that bind, the unbreakable spirit of trust and willingness to understand. The innocence of Shmuel allowing Bruno to "help you look for your Papa". It is a bittersweet expression of what makes a child a child, innocent and unaware of what is going on around them. Sad ignorance.
Kudos to the kid actors, what a fine performance and superb acting. Till the end. The final ten minutes or so of the reel is harrowing and almost impossible to watch. It was felt, it wasn't seen.
The film falls short of credibility as the lead actors speak in British English without even feigning German accent. The lack of tight security around the camp border made of barbed wire fence was hard to imagine as real, but which allowed the boys to share their best moments together. And yet, this did not take anything away from the film.
It was yet another sad story told but this time free of the gory details. I thought is was kid-friendly. Watch this movie and learn from a child. Bruno and Shmuel saw the world as a simple place where everyone could develop unconditional friendship. Till the end.
