One of the Greatest Movies Ever Made

Rating: 9/10 (28 November 2012)

Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno (Asa Butterfield), the eight-year-old son of the commandant (Professor Lupin) at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
I was a little slow warming up to this film. First, I was a bit put off by the fact the Germans were all obviously British with British accents. Perhaps having actual German actors might have made more sense (even if they spoke English). And then I found Bruno hard to relate to because he just seemed completely naive. Maybe I was not giving him enough credit, but either way, he charmed me over halfway in.
The way this film twists, turns, remains unpredictable, and handles ark, adult subject matter in a way that is (mostly) appropriate for children... it is beautiful and sad, perfect and tragic. I was impressed beginning to end, and it is no surprise that Asa Butterfield has become a go-to child actor for "Hugo" and "Ender's Game".