Feature2008·94m·7.8

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us.

DramaWarHistory

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.

Play now

Cast

Asa Butterfield

Bruno

Vera Farmiga

Mother

David Thewlis

Father

Jack Scanlon

Shmuel

Amber Beattie

Gretel

Rupert Friend

Lieutenant Kotler

David Hayman

Pavel

Sheila Hancock

Grandma

Richard Johnson

Grandpa

Cara Horgan

Maria

Jim Norton

Herr Liszt

Zac Mattoon O'Brien

Leon

Domonkos Németh

Martin

Henry Kingsmill

Karl

Zsuzsa Holl

Berlin Cook

László Áron

Lars

Charlie Baker

Palm Court Singer

Iván Verebély

Meinberg

Béla Fesztbaum

Schultz

Attila Egyed

Heinz

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English, German
Budget
$12.5M
Revenue
$20.4M
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
BBC FilmMiramaxHeyday Films

Crew

Director

Mark Herman

Writers

John Boyne, Mark Herman

Michael Ellis

Editor

Benoît Delhomme

Director of Photography

James Horner

Original Music Composer

Natalie Ward

Costume Design

Martin Childs

Production Design

Gallery

Reviews

r96sk

6/11/2024

8.0

Not convinced this is a greatly made movie, but it sure does pack a punch! <em>'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'</em> makes for good viewing for the majority, though that ending really is quite something - startling in fact, and that's even with me sensing it. The aforementioned is because, as well as the way the film builds in general, I'm pretty certain I watched this at high school; just not sure if it was snippets or the whole thing, the fence scenes are the only ones I vaguely recall seeing. The low acting level of the youngsters did take me out a bit, no dislike to Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon, obviously, but they aren't the best. Though they aren't helped by the dialogue for them, which doesn't feel natural at all. It's written in a way that is simply to tell the viewer about what's happening. The adult actors are great, though. Vera Farmiga stands out, though David Thewlis, Rupert Friend and David Hayman merit a mention too. All in all, it's a good film - and one that is distressingly unforgettable thanks to that one moment.