The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne follows the story of a young boy who lives near the Auschwitz Concentration Camp with his family as his father is a soldier in the Nazi army.
The first little difference is that they never say Auschwitz. It’s assumed, but Bruno calls it Out-With. Maybe there is some issues with using the name, but I think it just goes with my next opinion. While there are a lot of little differences in the book and movie, I feel the biggest likeness is that Bruno is very naive. Although he is young, it would make sense that he knows about why the Jews were kept in camps and how Germans felt the Jews were inferior to them in many ways. In the book and movie, however, Bruno seems very oblivious to this fact. He doesn’t understand why the “farmers” are wearing “pajamas” all day. He doesn’t understand why they are behind the fence or why his new friend behind the fence is so hungry all the time, or why he is not allowed to give him food. He regularly talks about how he is jealous because his friend talks about all the kids on his side of the fence and Bruno wants to play with kids because he had to leave his home and his friends to move to this new place far away.
In the book, Bruno’s father seems a bit harsher towards him, whereas in the movie he has a soft spot for Bruno it seems. I think maybe this difference is just a matter of the film being an easier avenue to project physical affection, rather than writing it out.
I also feel that in the movie we get a lot more of Bruno’s mom’s true feelings. She gives a lot of looks, but keeps quiet in the book, whereas in the film we get to see those looks of concern and her being unsure of all that is going on around her. I feel that added a lot to her character who is generally more quiet in the book.
The largest difference in the book is definitely the ending. In the ending of the book, Bruno’s family cannot find him and it ends that way. In the movie, Bruno’s father figures out quite quickly where Bruno has gone, but is too late to stop anything. I think the urgency at the end of the movie of his mother sobbing on the ground and his father racing to try to save him is far more dramatic and emotional than the ending of the book, which kind of just tapers off. I almost prefer the ending of the movie better, but I understand the dramatics on film. More appealing to viewers.
Overall, I feel the transfer of this story from book to movie was done well. The actors chosen were fantastic and the movie was kept closely to that of the book and the writers true intentions when writing it. It’s a heartbreaking story that was reality for many and I’m glad I got to experience it both on page and on big screen. I highly recommend it to all.
Pick up your copy of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or check your local bookstores. Also check out the movie starring Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, and Rupert Fiend on Amazon Prime, Apple Movies, or check your local store for a copy.
I’ve seen so many heart-wrenching movies growing up, but this was probably one of the most impactful. When I was younger, I never understood the Holocaust, or about the smoke in the air, or the fact that “Out-With” was actually Auschwitz. But when I re-watched the movie recently, I cried at this scene, as well as the ending. Even though I already read the book, and knew what was happening, I cried. This movie/book… it’s so subtle, but it’s so hard to watch and read without being haunted. Because this isn’t fiction. This particular storyline might be, but these… kids were locked away and people had so much prejudice against them. Because of their belief! It’s so sad, but this movie is incredible.