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Essay / A Cinematic Evaluation of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”
Film evaluation essays often analyze the depiction of historical events and figures, such as the Holocaust and its impact on individuals, as shown in Mark Herman's 2008 film, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. In the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, directed by Mark Herman, viewers analyze this movie as a good movie that depicts the events of World War II. Since Herman's film is about a historical event, he directs his scenes by showing his viewers a glimpse of the Holocaust through the eyes of a child. This fictional plot of the story is about a young boy named Bruno and his encounter with a Jewish boy, named Shmuel, whom he meets on the way out of a concentration camp. Their friendship develops beautifully as the film progresses. Evaluating the film's fictional plot, main characters, cinematography, and influence are important factors that make this film emotionally impactful to watch. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout the film, Herman includes different elements of World War II, including German soldiers, Jews, and the largest concentration camp, Auschwitz. The fictional story offers a unique perspective as viewers see the situation unfold from a child's point of view. The hatred and violence against innocent Jews is not directly shown due to the innocence of a child in the film. “The great enigma of the Holocaust is that it was perpetrated by a human being and not by monsters. Few films have made this puzzle so powerful, (Rainer). Each of his characters presents 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 small hint of hope and purity that Bruno and Shmuel's friendship brings. An important factor in 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 curiosity wandering in the forest and open fields. This is how Bruno comes to find Shmuel and becomes more interested in this new friend of his. Besides Bruno's friendship, David Thewlis, who plays Bruno's father, represents the opposing perspective of the events of World War II. In the film, his complex and honest character is reflected in his actions as a commander. In an interview, Thewlis comments that he read books which helped influence his acting. “I really want to know what kind of spirits we are dealing with here. And so I read - you know, I had already read Primo Levy, and - a lot of things that I had already read because I myself have a history with the Jewish people (Thewlis).”