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| Children 'should see' Holocaust film | Children 'should see' Holocaust film |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News The makers of a new movie offering a child's perspective on the Holocaust are encouraging parents to let their children see it. | By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News The makers of a new movie offering a child's perspective on the Holocaust are encouraging parents to let their children see it. |
| The film is based on John Boyne's best-selling book, published in 2006The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has been rated 12A by the British Board of Film Classification for its "scenes of holocaust threat and horror". | The film is based on John Boyne's best-selling book, published in 2006The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has been rated 12A by the British Board of Film Classification for its "scenes of holocaust threat and horror". |
| As such the film is considered suitable for viewers aged 12 and over, though younger children may be admitted if they are accompanied by an adult. | As such the film is considered suitable for viewers aged 12 and over, though younger children may be admitted if they are accompanied by an adult. |
| "I think 12A is an ideal certificate," says its director Mark Herman. "You're never too young to learn about the idiocy of racism and the folly of prejudice." | "I think 12A is an ideal certificate," says its director Mark Herman. "You're never too young to learn about the idiocy of racism and the folly of prejudice." |
| Based on the novel by Irish author John Boyne, the film tells of the friendship that develops between Bruno, the eight-year-old son of a concentration camp commandant, and Shmuel, a Jewish boy who is imprisoned inside. | |
| According to Herman, the drama offers young children "an easy first step towards learning about that horrible time in our history". | According to Herman, the drama offers young children "an easy first step towards learning about that horrible time in our history". |
| "It's not a children's film, but it certainly could and should be watched by children," agrees the British actor David Thewlis, who plays Bruno's father. | "It's not a children's film, but it certainly could and should be watched by children," agrees the British actor David Thewlis, who plays Bruno's father. |
| Distressing | Distressing |
| The Harry Potter star says he will "very forcibly" encourage his three-year-old daughter, Gracie, to see the film when she is old enough. | The Harry Potter star says he will "very forcibly" encourage his three-year-old daughter, Gracie, to see the film when she is old enough. |
| This is despite an emotive climax that, while far from graphic, could well prove distressing to those of an impressionable age. | This is despite an emotive climax that, while far from graphic, could well prove distressing to those of an impressionable age. |
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| The two young stars on their roles in the film | |
| Thewlis concedes that the film ends on a sombre note, but says it is "necessary in order to understand the gravity of the story." | |
| Herman admits he expected the downbeat conclusion to become a point of contention when Disney subsidiary Miramax agreed to finance the production. | Herman admits he expected the downbeat conclusion to become a point of contention when Disney subsidiary Miramax agreed to finance the production. |
| "I told them there was no point making the film unless we stayed with the ending," he says. | "I told them there was no point making the film unless we stayed with the ending," he says. |
| To his surprise, however, the anticipated conflict did not arise. "We always dreaded it coming but it never happened," he reveals. | To his surprise, however, the anticipated conflict did not arise. "We always dreaded it coming but it never happened," he reveals. |
| "As an adaptation it's very faithful," agrees Boyne. "It takes the story and the tone of the book and translates it exactly." | "As an adaptation it's very faithful," agrees Boyne. "It takes the story and the tone of the book and translates it exactly." |
| Over the course of the drama, Bruno (newcomer Asa Butterfield) slowly comes to realise the true nature of the camp and his father's role in its activities. | Over the course of the drama, Bruno (newcomer Asa Butterfield) slowly comes to realise the true nature of the camp and his father's role in its activities. |
| Duality | Duality |
| "The film is about his loss of innocence," says Thewlis, who admits he was intrigued by his character's dual nature. | "The film is about his loss of innocence," says Thewlis, who admits he was intrigued by his character's dual nature. |
| "Family was a big part of the Nazi regime because children were seen as the future," he explains. | "Family was a big part of the Nazi regime because children were seen as the future," he explains. |
| Friend (right) is currently dating actress Keira Knightley | |
| "Joseph Goebbels (Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister) had six children, even though he murdered them later." | |
| [It is generally accepted that Goebbels' wife, Magda, gave the children cyanide capsules in Hitler's bunker before she and Goebbels committed suicide]. | [It is generally accepted that Goebbels' wife, Magda, gave the children cyanide capsules in Hitler's bunker before she and Goebbels committed suicide]. |
| Thewlis read extensively about the Third Reich to prepare for his role, a process he describes as "depressing" but invaluable. | Thewlis read extensively about the Third Reich to prepare for his role, a process he describes as "depressing" but invaluable. |
| "It was interesting to investigate the love they had for their own children alongside the hatred they had for other people's." | "It was interesting to investigate the love they had for their own children alongside the hatred they had for other people's." |
| Actor Rupert Friend, though, says he relied on his intuition when portraying Thewlis's sadistic lieutenant. | Actor Rupert Friend, though, says he relied on his intuition when portraying Thewlis's sadistic lieutenant. |
| "Exploring the concentration camps as they exist today was not something I thought would help me," he tells the BBC News website. | "Exploring the concentration camps as they exist today was not something I thought would help me," he tells the BBC News website. |
| The Pride and Prejudice star says he tried to keep his character at arm's length but could not help taking him home at the end of the day. | The Pride and Prejudice star says he tried to keep his character at arm's length but could not help taking him home at the end of the day. |
| "It's sort of impossible not to," he admits. "You're living outside your own moral values, which is a hard place to spend time mentally." | "It's sort of impossible not to," he admits. "You're living outside your own moral values, which is a hard place to spend time mentally." |
| The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is out in the UK on 12 September. | The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is out in the UK on 12 September. |