Over-rated and Historical Errors Weaken Story

Rating: 3/10 (17 May 2009)

It's hard to be sentimental and shed a tear for a tale woven around inaccuracies, which bothered me to no end.
Just from the movie poster, I knew the film wouldn't hold up because the poor, child prisoner is too close to the fence. He would have been shot dead. Furthermore, the German boy would have been spotted and reported and, well, end of story. Just read some of the accounts from survivors at Auschwitz (the unnamed camp in the movie) and you'll understand exactly where I'm coming from.
Beyond that, the story itself is a bit sterile and clean, with far too many plot holes, though the acting and cinematography were wonderful. Once again, regardless of what movie she's in (such as the wonderful "Dummy" or the pathetically awful "Running Scared"), Vera Farmiga shines brightly.
There has been much debate as to the accuracy of Holocaust films. Instead of commercial interpretations, take the time to watch the documentaries and actual footage, or read the works of the survivors, such as Weisel and Frankl. They're far more poignant and effective than watered-down and goof-ridden fodder from the movie industry.