Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has ... Read allThrough the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
- Awards
- 7 wins & 7 nominations
- Leon
- (as Zac Mattoon-O'Brien)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBruno's parents are named Ralf and Elsa, but in the credits of the film they are listed as "Father" and "Mother." This is a tribute to the novel, in which the narrative focuses solely on Bruno's point of view.
- GoofsAt Auschwitz, (and other camps) there were double fences, 3 meters apart, around the compound. Too much distance for an outsider to touch an insider.
- Quotes
Shmuel: I wish you'd remembered the chocolate.
Bruno: Yes, I'm sorry. I know! Perhaps you can come and have supper with us sometime.
Shmuel: I can't, can I? Because of this.
[points the electric fence]
Bruno: But that's to stop the animals getting out, isn't it?
Shmuel: Animals? No, it's to stop people getting out.
Bruno: Are you not allowed out? Why? What have you done?
Shmuel: I'm a Jew.
- Crazy creditsQuotation displayed before the opening titles: "Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows - John Betjeman"
In truth, however, none of these criticisms actually matters a damn. For even though all of the above is undeniably true, the film still works. And my, how it works. When it finished, I sat in my seat stunned (I had the same reaction after watching "Disaster Movie" last week, but most definitely not for the same reason, I assure you).
The Holocaust as seen through the prism of 8 year old German boy is a novel approach and although we all know what is happening at the camp nearby, at the beginning, he does not. And every step he takes, he gets closer to discovering the truth, losing his childhood innocence in the process.
What I liked about this film is the sophisticated and multi-layered portrayal of the German characters. None of them are one dimensional wholly evil characters but nor are they wholly good either (not even Bruno who tells lies on several occasions, one occasion which results in brutal punishment for one of the prisoners as a consequence).
- sharkie-294-946704
- Feb 17, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Chú bé mang pyjama sọc
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $12,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,046,156
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $253,085
- Nov 9, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $40,416,563
- Runtime1 hour 34 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1