The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

PG-13

2008

1h 34m

Drama

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

144 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

During World War II, 8-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield) and his family leave Berlin to take up residence near the concentration camp where his father (David Thewlis) has just become commandant. Unhappy and lonely, he wanders out behind his house one day and finds Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy of his age. Though the barbed-wire fence of the camp separates them, the boys begin a forbidden friendship, oblivious to the real nature of their surroundings.

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Critics Consensus

A touching and haunting family film that deals with the Holocaust in an arresting and unusual manner, and packs a brutal final punch of a twist.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

11/04/2022

A child’s-eye view of the Holocaust, this family film is likely to trigger big questions from younger viewers.

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

11/17/2011

3/5

[Director] Mark Herman knows how to milk the melodrama from every scene, but viewers may feel a little icky about the experience.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

05/01/2009

3.5/5

We are left in no doubt about the brutality of what's going on there but it's almost entirely off-screen. Still, the film is terribly confronting.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/07/2024

3/4

[The film] touches on important questions about the costs of human life and the dangers of hatred in a stirring, heart-wrenching tale.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/19/2022

4/5

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” asks several powerful questions about war, family, and morality. It also gives us a glimpse into a part of our world’s history that is still hard to look at but should be reckoned with.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

01/31/2021

3/5

A valiant attempt to tell a small scale story about an unimaginably huge period in our history, and while it may drag in places, it has its heart in the right place and a devastating ending that will take your breath away.

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Samuel H.

@Samuelhaubner Feb 19

Such a sad film and really good depiction of the war of the holocaust. When the little boys talk to each other or defense, it’s so sad when shmuel talks. The ending scene is one of the saddest scenes I’ve ever have laid my eyes no child should die in a gas chamber and no parent should witness that. A very, very sad film.

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Ren Y

@HeronR3n Jan 7

It's clear that this movie does indeed end with a sad ending for the start. Aside from it being focused on the holocaust and the horrible conditions the victims were subjected upon, the historical accuracy is to say the least, far from accurate. I'm not so sure how Bruno went through the fence without getting electrocuted or how there was barely any guards around, because how did they not get caught? But that's just my opinion. It's not the best on accuracy but it does give an idea on severe actions during the holocaust

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Anna L

@AnnaL Dec 26

I loved this movie. It puts you on the other side, what you do to other people and it eventually can happen to you.

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T85 J

@RT30288731 Dec 5

It makes sure you fall into tears (aslong you're not antisemitic). Making characters you empathize with, a well developed story and a dark atmosphere. The only reason I don't give 5 Stars is simply the one I generally am not the type of sad movies.

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Bronson K.

@Bmantomatoes Oct 3

Wonderful film, this film is great though the end can be very sad.

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L S

@LS253 Aug 6

Absolute low level tripe. Not one bit fo this film is any good. From the acting, the atrociously written script to the woefully underdeveloped story. It was a painful watch, for all the wrong reasons.

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Mark Herman

Director

David Thewlis

Father

Vera Farmiga

Elsa

Rupert Friend

Lieutenant Kotler

Asa Butterfield

Bruno

Jack Scanlon

Shmuel

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Synopsis

During World War II, 8-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield) and his family leave Berlin to take up residence near the concentration camp where his father (David Thewlis) has just become commandant. Unhappy and lonely, he wanders out behind his house one day and finds Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy of his age. Though the barbed-wire fence of the camp separates them, the boys begin a forbidden friendship, oblivious to the real nature of their surroundings.

Director: Mark Herman
Producer: David Heyman
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Heyday Films, BBC Films, Miramax Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Mature Thematic Material|Involving the Holocaust)
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.0M
Runtime: 1h 34m

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