Movie and Book The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a brilliant film depicting the existence of good and evil, and the responsibility we have as human beings to distinguish between the two; for it is responsibility that distinguishes us from every other being. In my opinion, this is an important, life-changing film with a meaningful message, and one that should be seen by everyone. The film is told from the point of view of eight-year-old Bruno, whose innate sense of morality and justice ultimately makes him the fallen hero of the story. The film's premise focuses on a friendship that develops between Bruno and Shmuel, also eight years old, and victims of the Holocaust. The film takes the viewer into the minds of these two young boys and depicts the Holocaust through their childhood eyes. The story centers on World War II in 1942 and begins with Bruno running through the streets of Berlin with three friends, imitating war planes. When Bruno returns home, he sees that his things are being packed. He asks his mother Elsa what is going on and she tells him that his father Ralf, a German SS soldier, has received a promotion and that the family must leave their home in Berlin and move to a new house in the countryside. From his new room, Bruno looks out the window and sees what he thinks is a farm. He asks his mother about it, asking why all the farmers wear striped pajamas and if he can go play with the children who live there. His mother soothes him but does not agree to let him go play with the children on the farm, nor is he allowed to leave the enclosure to play or explore; it is limited to the house and front yard only. After... middle of paper... destroyed by guilt, ardently wants to redeem himself and agrees to help Shmuel find his missing father. While searching for Shmuel's father, the two boys find themselves inadvertently trapped among a group of prisoners being taken to the gas chamber to be exterminated. Naked, scared and holding hands, Bruno and Shmuel die together, as innocents, as friends… as equals. Thus, as evil plays out and reaches its inevitable conclusion, whereby the sins of the father are destined to be visited upon the son; we, the viewer, are in shock, even crying (at least I did) at the utter horror and tragedy of seeing these two innocent boys die a needless death. Yet at the same time, we also root for young Bruno as his inherent humanity leads him to his final act of goodwill in the face of his fear, following his heart and helping his friend is radically redemptive..

Essay / Movie and Book The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a brilliant film depicting the existence of good and evil, and the responsibility we have as human beings to distinguish between the two; for it is responsibility that distinguishes us from every other being. In my opinion, this is an important, life-changing film with a meaningful message, and one that should be seen by everyone. The film is told from the point of view of eight-year-old Bruno, whose innate sense of morality and justice ultimately makes him the fallen hero of the story. The film's premise focuses on a friendship that develops between Bruno and Shmuel, also eight years old, and victims of the Holocaust. The film takes the viewer into the minds of these two young boys and depicts the Holocaust through their childhood eyes. The story centers on World War II in 1942 and begins with Bruno running through the streets of Berlin with three friends, imitating war planes. When Bruno returns home, he sees that his things are being packed. He asks his mother Elsa what is going on and she tells him that his father Ralf, a German SS soldier, has received a promotion and that the family must leave their home in Berlin and move to a new house in the countryside. From his new room, Bruno looks out the window and sees what he thinks is a farm. He asks his mother about it, asking why all the farmers wear striped pajamas and if he can go play with the children who live there. His mother soothes him but does not agree to let him go play with the children on the farm, nor is he allowed to leave the enclosure to play or explore; it is limited to the house and front yard only. After... middle of paper... destroyed by guilt, ardently wants to redeem himself and agrees to help Shmuel find his missing father. While searching for Shmuel's father, the two boys find themselves inadvertently trapped among a group of prisoners being taken to the gas chamber to be exterminated. Naked, scared and holding hands, Bruno and Shmuel die together, as innocents, as friends… as equals. Thus, as evil plays out and reaches its inevitable conclusion, whereby the sins of the father are destined to be visited upon the son; we, the viewer, are in shock, even crying (at least I did) at the utter horror and tragedy of seeing these two innocent boys die a needless death. Yet at the same time, we also root for young Bruno as his inherent humanity leads him to his final act of goodwill in the face of his fear, following his heart and helping his friend is radically redemptive..

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