Topic > A Film Evaluation of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"

Film evaluation essays often analyze the depiction of historical events and characters, such as the Holocaust and its impact on individuals, as depicted in Mark's film Herman from 2008, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. In the film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, directed by Mark Herman, viewers analyze this film as a good film that portrays the events of World War II. Since Herman's film deals with a historical event, he directs his scenes by showing viewers a view of the Holocaust through the eyes of a child. This fictional plot of the story is about a young boy named Bruno and this encounter with a Jewish boy, named Shmuel, who he meets at the entrance to a concentration camp. Their friendship develops beautifully as the film progresses. Evaluating the story's plot, main characters, cinematography, and the film's influence are important factors in what makes this an emotionally impactful film to watch. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the film, Herman includes several elements of World War II that include German soldiers, Jews, and the largest concentration camp, Auschwitz. The fictional story offers a unique perspective as viewers see the situation happen from a child's point of view. The hatred and violence against innocent Jews is not shown directly due to the innocence of the child in the film. “-the great enigma of the Holocaust is that it was perpetrated by a human being, not by monsters. Few films have rendered this puzzle so powerfully, (Rainer).” Each of his characters portrays a different perspective on the historical event. For example, while Bruno's innocence prevents him from understanding the situation, his father is a heartless commander who controls the torture of the Jews. Despite the horrors of war, Herman still gives us a little hint of hope and purity that the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel brings with it. An important factor of a film is the characters and what they represent. The child actor, Asa Butterfield who plays Bruno, is a typical 8 year old who just wants to be an explorer. Herman shows Bruno's curious self wandering the forest and open fields. This is how Bruno meets Shmuel and becomes more interested in this new friend of his. Aside from Bruno's friendship, David Thewlis, who serves as Bruno's father, is the opposite perspective of the events of World War II. In the film, his complex and upright character is seen in his actions as a commander. In an interview, Thewlis comments that he read books that helped influence his acting. “I really want to know what kind of minds we're dealing with here. And so I read - you know, I had already read Primo Levy, and - a lot of things I had already read because I also have a history with the Jewish people, (Thewlis).”