Incredible on Many Levels

Rating: Null/10 (8 December 2008)

This is an absolutely amazing film that deserves all of the superlatives of the previous commenters. "Stunning" is the word I keep hearing in the reviews of this film and it is spot on. Some have criticized this movie as too intense for the younger viewers that they think this film was intended for but this criticism misses the mark. The character portraits in this film are too complex for younger viewers to understand in my opinion, anyway.
Besides the incredible ending, the real point of the movie is the growing horror of the holocaust as seen in the eyes of the characters. We see this not only in Bruno's mother (an incredible performance by Vera Farmiga) as she is repelled by the realization of what her husband has become. But also by his sister Gretel who initially becomes taken with Lieutenant Kotler and the Nazi philosophy because of her attraction to him. Only to realize in her brother's fear induced by his parent's quarelling that all is not right.
The movie also offer s a strong commentary on how the German people could have tolerated or accepted what occurred even as some may not have yet understood all of the reality. When Bruno denies that he knows Schmuel when he is confronted by Lieutenant Kotler, we are seeing a metaphor for the denial that I believe the German people as a whole must have had for what, at some level, they must have realized was going on. It also demonstrates what pressure from those around you does to people.
The strength of friendship is also evidenced by the next encounter between Bruno and Schmuel when Bruno asks Schmuel if he is still his friend and he says yes and they hold hands through the fence. I thought this was most touching scene of the film to that point.
Finally in the end there is our own horror at what happens to Bruno who we have come to like and come to ultimately respect his own humanity and the lesson that evil destroys a part of the evil doer as well as the victim.
To say that I was moved by this film underestimates its impact. This film is second only to Schindler's List in my estimation in its ability to enlighten us all on the horror of the holocaust. If this film is not at least nominated for Best Picture, I will be very disappointed.