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Films

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Original poster

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - anyone else seen it?

29 replies

BodenGroupie · 16/09/2008 18:50

Thought it was amazing and can't stop thinking about it. Superb acting, beautifully filmed. DD2 12 had to leave before the final five minutes cos she was so distressed but still says she's glad she saw it and wants to read the book. DD1 (nearly 15), has read it and thought it was brilliant - less sensitive than little sis but still struggled with it.

OP posts:

CostaRicanCod · 16/09/2008 18:53

my parents
liked it

Saturn74 · 16/09/2008 18:53

We're going tomorrow.
The children have listened to the audio cd, and I have read it.
Will let you know what we think.

wordgirl · 16/09/2008 19:04

What age do you think it's suitable for? DS1 (14) has read the book and I'm sure DS2 (13) would be ok with it. But do you think it's ok for (less sensitive) younger children?

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BodenGroupie · 16/09/2008 19:21

I would say my 12 year old is hyper-sensitive - almost too empathetic. Really difficult to judge without knowing the child. Still think it's an important film to see. Be interested to hear what others think (it's Mumsnet....of course I'll hear!)

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roisin · 22/09/2008 21:33

I'm so angry, there is no sign of this film coming to our cinema

ds1 (11) has read the book and I'd like to take him.

Original poster

BodenGroupie · 23/09/2008 19:24

Don't understand why it hasn't had a wider release - our nearest cinemas are 45 minutes apart in opposite directions but the journey was worth it!

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bluesky · 24/09/2008 11:59

I don't think i could cope with the ending! I would be leaving like bodengroupie's daughter!

cremolafoam · 24/09/2008 12:07

yes bothe dd and i have read the book and seen the film.
I thought it was a very good interpretation of the book. DD(13) thought it looked exactly like she had imagined it.It is tough going, but definitlely helps to have read the book first so you the ending which is extremey traumatic.
Agree beautifully filmed.

PrimulaVeris · 24/09/2008 12:08

Thinking about seeing it

DD12 just finished reading the book - studying it in English at school. She said it 'really makes you think'

IllegallyBrunette · 24/09/2008 12:09

My mum has read the book and liked it, but said she won't go and see the film as she'd find the ending too upsetting.

Cies · 24/09/2008 12:09

There was a really interesting review of this film on Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode´s podcast.

Kermode argued strongly that it´s a 12A for a reason. He said it´s definitely the type of film you want to discuss afterwards, and that children/young teens should be accompanied to see it so that they have someone to talk about it with afterwards.

I would like to see it if it ever gets to a cinema near me.

LilRedWG · 24/09/2008 12:12

I've read the book and am going with a friend to see in in November (local cinema release).

I know that I will sob and then sob some more.

Hathor · 24/09/2008 12:25

I thought it was a dreadful film. To start with I was completely confused as the family were speaking English. This made it difficult to imagine them as Germans.
The children's acting was good, but the father was not very believable.
I thought the plot was contrived - the mother would surely have not been so naive.
The final scenes were horrific and graphic. I hope the child actors were not exposed to the horror of what they were portraying. The entire audience were stunned into silence at the end. I wish I had not seen the film.
I expect the book is better, but I haven't read it. Is it an A-level text?

OrmIrian · 24/09/2008 12:27

Want to take DS#1 who is 11. Would it be suitable for my 9yr old DD? Or too distressing.

LilRedWG · 24/09/2008 12:38

I haven't seen the film yet Orm, but I wouldn't let a nine year old read the book, so maybe not a good idea for the film, and only the 11 year old if they are emotionally mature enough to deal.

Hathor's comments reminded me of when DH and I went to see Leaving Las Vegas at the conema. People actually got up and walked out when they realised that it wasn't going to be a happy ending. I think a dose of reality does us all good occassionally and brings us back down to earth.

OrmIrian · 24/09/2008 12:40

perhaps not DD then. I think DS will be fine. We had a chat about the story already. but perhaps I need to see it first?

Buda · 24/09/2008 12:43

I have read the book and thought it was very good. Don't think I would like to see the movie as I know the ending!

OrmIrian - not sure I would even take an 11 year old tbh. Have you read it?

OrmIrian · 24/09/2008 12:48

No Buda I haven't. Just listened to the review on R4 last week. There was some discussion about whether it was suitable for children - but the director said it was. But I guess it depends on the child. Seen a copy of the book in our bookshop so maybe that would be a good start.

LilRedWG · 24/09/2008 12:51

Didn't realise that you hadn't read it - definitely read before you decide whether to take DS.

It is a good read, but also disturbing on many levels.

Buda · 24/09/2008 12:56

It is a great book but as LilRedWG says is disturbing.

noonki · 24/09/2008 13:12

I helped my 12 year old DSS choose this book at waterstones with advice from the assistant.

He reads loads of teenage fiction (generally horror stuff) so thought he would be OK.

About a week later got a call from his mum who said that he hadn't slept for 2 nights as the book had upset him that much. So I would be wary. I read it and it is disturbing because of the subject matter.

I think it is essential that all children are fully educated about the holocaust but the age at which you expose them to the horror is, imo, dependant on your child's maturity and sensitivity.

OrmIrian · 24/09/2008 14:06

OK. Thanks.

I suspect DS would be OK. But I need to find out more first.

Cammelia · 05/10/2008 21:34

Went to see this film today with dh and 11 year old dd. Year 8 at her school went to see it as a school outing and dd wnated to see it (she is Yr7).

We thought it was very sobering and brilliant film. Dd cried at the end. She was prepared for the subject matter (although we haven't read the book and didn't know the full story).

Also she has been to Anne Frank house in Amsterdam and has an understanding of the Holocaust.

Definitely not suitable for younger children.

branflake81 · 19/10/2008 08:49

I saw this last night. I had not read the book and didn't know much about it so was really shocked by the ending.

I thought it was amazing. So simple and so awfully harrowing.

lou33 · 13/03/2009 09:06

i watched this on dvd last night

what an amazing moving film, and wonderfully acted

i think this is going to now be on my list of best films

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