Directed
by Brian Percival, 'The Book Thief' is
about a young girl called Liesel (Sophie
Nelisse) living with her adoptive
German family during the Second World War. It is set within an attractive
picture postcard, snow-covered town ironically juxtaposed with the hardships of
the Nazi regime.
The
131 minute movie has already racked in over $68 million at the box office, and
it's not surprising given the spectacular performances showcased from Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as Liesel's adoptive winking-addict father and cranky but caring
mother. Brave Liesel is taught to read by her doting foster father, which
causes her to 'borrow' books to learn more. She also shares these books with a
Jewish refugee (Ben
Schnetzer) that her parents are
hiding and taking care of. But the niggling issue remains of what happens to
Liesel's birth mother after she gave Liesel up for adoption and why exactly she had to be put up for adoption in the first place. Neither of these issues are answered or addressed for the entirety of the film.
However, the
haunting musical score by Oscar-nominated composer John Williams really brings the captivating
cinematography to life. The emotion it creates is unbelievable, but expected
from the composer of scores for 'Star
Wars', 'E.T.' and 'Jaws'.
'The
Book Thief' is one of those rare
films that makes you pinpoint human strength, love and family. The driving
force behind the flick is the narration courtesy of Death, portrayed by 'Game of Thrones' actor Roger Allam. His
gripping narration provides a childlike element to the story and enhances the
characters' personalities, actions and emotions.
The majority of mainstream reviews for the movie have been startlingly
negative, but to me 'The Book Thief' is a
human-interest film that tugs on your heartstrings and forces you to appreciate
what you have. To my astonishment the cinema was practically private when I saw
the film, but this actually made the entire experience more intimate and
hard-hitting. It truly is a beautiful depiction of the brutality that Jews and
non-Jews alike received from the Nazis.
Coming
across as a Christmas card or vintage chocolate box, the movie's setting is
ironically lovely, only making it more ferocious and unnerving when the
community is destroyed in more ways than one. 'The Book Thief' wonderfully encapsulates the hardships faced by millions in 1930s Germany and during World War Two. One stand-out scene sees Liesel and her best friend Rudy walk into a lush forest
with a steady, twinkling lake and scream "I hate Hitler" at the top
of their lungs together. It's also striking to watch young children threatening
to report one another to the Nazis, as well as how quickly Hitler's ideals are
enforced into practice.
Sentimentality
and courage run hand in hand throughout the film and bring the unsettling plot
to a sticky end. 'The
Book Thief' is as thought-provoking
and touching as 'The
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' through
its dark scenes as well as optimism. Screenwriter Michael Petroni lifts the words off the page and has adapted a tough-minded children's
book into a visually captivating masterpiece that hits you right between the
eyes.
'The
Book Thief' honours accuracy in a
hypnotic, horrific and honest manner. This film deserves all the success of the
book because if there was ever a dazzling, engrossing, must-see film, you've found it!
5/5
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