I just saw this at the cinema after having read the book and am completely in love with it. Has anyone else seen it or planning to see it? I definitely recommend reading the book as well. Either way, it's a very intense and moving story.

I've seen the promotional stills for it and looks great. I'm a sucker for old WWII films and having David Thewlis in it is just a plus.

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I didn't know it was made a movie yet!!! I've just only discovered the hype around the book - and I haven't even read the book yet... but according to IMDB it doesn't open here anytime this year, so I have time...
I saw everyone reading it in Spain and I thought it was a Spanish author, silly me.

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No, no, I believe he's an Irish author. But yeah, David Thewlis and David Heyman [I was looking forward to seeing both] were very well cast.

Yes, once it comes out next week. I have been waiting for months for it to come up. The book was really good, and enjoyable.

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I just heard about this movie--I don't believe it's opened in the US yet, but I'd really like to see it, and read the book.

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As I said before, I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys [well, not really enjoys... but you know what I mean] things relating to the Holocaust. It's not a real life event or anything, but I think the way it's told, through the eyes of a child, makes it just as moving and heart-breaking in the end.

Yup, the author is Irish... just didn't realise!

Larael, this reminds me of something I heard. Is it true that Holocaust has been taken out of history books in the UK because it could/might offend other religious groups e.g. Muslims?


EDIT: Oh, it sounds like the book might be the ideal Christmas present for... someone!
*ticks off list*

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I had heard something about that, Eä. I don't think they've been so drastic as to take it out of history books [as there is a good portion of it in my World History textbook], but I do believe there are some teachers who are reluctant to teach the subject because it may offend Muslims. The same goes for lessons about the Crusades, since that often contradicts what is taught in mosques. So yeah, I definitely didn't read this book in school.

Hmm that is really... I mean.. I don't know what to say... Holocaust is such an important thing in our common history, we must never forget what evil can do. I believe everyone's voice should be heard so I'd prefer if they had added something from the world history which had a meaning to other people/nations/religions instead. Do you know why they didn't do that? After all we live in an enlightened time where knowledge on the world - and on events in the past - is crucial to our continued co-existance.


I'm thinking of giving the book as a Christmas present, what kind of people would enjoy it? I've got my friend in mind, she's interested in WWII and in a good read, of course.

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I'm not sure really. It's all very confusing and most people just go ahead and teach it anyway. *shrug*

Your friend sounds like the perfect candidate for receiving such a book. It's a simple read and the main character, Bruno, can be a bit bothersome and trying at times, but I think, in the end, s/he will enjoy it immensely.

Okay, good... makes me calmer now - and kind of restored my faith in the sanity of mankind.

Okay, I've been to a couple of bookstores and they all missed out on the book. None of them had it in-store, so apparently we are perfectly ignorant about this book that is a bestseller around the world, except for here! The ones that could order the book could only get it as a hardback, which is too expensive for me...
I did see the trailer for the movie though and perhaps it will change once the movie comes out here next week.

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I do hope so. It is a wonderful book. Are you planning on seeing the movie then?

I went to see it again the other weekend, and was terribly annoyed by two blokes in there who had obviously not read the book. If you intend to see the movie before reading the book then you need to go to the cinema with a few things in mind.

First, the story is told seen through the eyes of an 8 year old boy. He's ignorant of everything going on around him and fails to realise the consequences of his actions toward the Jewish boy, Shmuel. Some things he says could even be cringe-worthy to some people, but they shouldn't be because he's a little boy and doesn't know any better.

Second, anti-Semitism is present through out the movie in the way the characters act and speak. Not only is this movie shown through the eyes of a little boy, but this boy is part of a non-Jewish family that was in the thick of Hitler's plans. The father agrees with everything Hitler does because that's all he knows. It may make us uncomfortable now, but that's how it was.

Last, the Holocaust is not a happy subject, and therefore I do not believe an dramatisation of it should be all happiness and sunshine. Hopeful yes, but not naïve and ridiculously happy as to be disrespectful. Some will say that this movie is disrespectful to that time and to the Jewish people who suffered, but I do not agree. It is realistic, and that is hard for people to stomach.

So please, if you go see it, keep an open mind. Unlike the ignorant blokes sitting behind me.

Ohh but that's really annoying... now you need to go see it a third time!

Thanks for the recommandations.
I'm not sure I will see the movie after having seen the trailer. Like you said it is pretty clear that the story is told from the boy's view and he is very ignorant and naïve. It appeared very much like a children's movie to me, not that this is necessarily a bad thing, since this is can also be a strong point. But it annoyed me! Again like you said Bruno obviously doesn't know much about the world and I'm afraid it becomes quite a one-sided plot then. Fair enough if the movie wants to show the 'other side', the point of view of Hitler's supporters and the innocence of a child in the middle of war, but... well, I think for me I would enjoy reading the more than watching the movie.
Hmmm about Holocaust, I'm thinking Life is Beautiful, have you seen it? I didn't like it too much either... I'm just not too much of a Holocaust-interested person!
I know all this came out very prejudist against just a 3 mins trailer, but see I might have learned something from you in analysing movie trailers!
Feel free to try to change my mind if I got the wrong impression, it's not that I don't want to see it at all cost but you know, Christmas month... and a lot to see and do - and spend your money on!!

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I can't afford movie tickets,but it looks so good I'm definately going to borrow it from the library once it comes to dvd.I love old WWII movies.

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^thanks Aliana

I've seen the commercials for it, but that was like two or three weeks ago and I haven't seen one since....I'll probably have to wait until it releases on dvd but I want to see it.

I think people need to see stuff that's centered around the Holocaust since there's so much denial about it. I for one, feel much more grateful I live here and I wasn't alive back then because of what happened. I also think we need to pay attention to what happened then so we don't repeat the same mistakes and the same atrocities.

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