Novel Approach To Serious Subject

Rating: 5/10 (16 March 2009)

Boyne's novel shows the fact that Boyne, born in 1971, is writing about a subject he can not understand because he did not live it. This film reflects the novel in that in comes off as a children's movie and not just because of the acting of Asa. This is a children's view of the Holocast totally in the way it is presented.
At slightly over 90 minutes, I am glad that I have looked at the DVD of this film. The DVD features several scenes cut from the final film. At least 2 of those scenes should be put back into the film to make the film better. This is a case where the film editor went a little too far & there is no reason to shorten the movie this much. Adding a couple of these scenes would improve the film, particularly one sequence which has Asa & his sister looking out the back window of their new home at the internment camp in the distance. It is a conversation that needs to be back in this film.
What reflects the book is that the adults are presented with the view made popular as a defense at the Nuremburg Trials, that they were naive or just following orders. The fact is that any German who read Mein Kampt knew the final solution. What this film is excellent at is bringing this story to a kids level.
The trouble is it loses the adult level in the process. As an adult, you feel manipulated & I could see the ending coming a mile away. While it is emotional but unless your a child, there is no surprise here. It leaves the adult level of the film rather empty.
The location shooting in Eastern Europe and the camera work are excellent, but without an adult level, I could only find half a film here. Trouble is it is shot too complex to be a children's film, & at way too low a level to be a serious adult film. It is a shame as this film could be so much more.