The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

This film took place in the countryside of Germany during WWII.  Did it feel like a war period to you?  Why or why not? What was the family life like? 

Bruno’s father is given an assignment as a Commander of the Third Reich to oversee “a farm.”  What really was the farm?  Bruno thinks everyone at the farm is wearing pajamas.  What really are they wearing.  Who lives “on the farm?” 

Spend some time and discuss what happened to Germany in WWI.  Did Germany win or loose WWI?  What was Germany’s reaction to loosing?  Who did they blame for their loss? 

During Bruno’s school lessons, the tutor says “it’s time to get your head out of fiction and into the real world.”  With the tutor Bruno studies current affairs and “why so many are working hard to make this country great again.“  The education Bruno and his sister Gretel receive is more like Third Reich propaganda.  Why?  What are the lessons like? 

The tutor says that the Jews slandered us and were responsible for our downfall. 

How does Bruno respond to the tutor’s lessons?  As an explorer and questions what is going on? 

How does Gretel respond?  With conviction and certainty?  She throws away her dolls and puts up political posters. 

Can you relate to both children?  How so?

Think back on when you loose at a game or competition.  It is normal to feel a bit vindictive?  Was it fair for Germany to blame their circumstances on the Jews?

When Bruno falls off the swing, it is the Jewish servant who helps him and bandages his leg.  When Bruno claims the servant doesn’t know what he’s talking about since he’s not a doctor, the servant responds “yes I am.  I practiced as a doctor before……” and discontinues the sentence.  Why would a Jewish doctor now be a servant for a German household peeling potatoes?  Bruno then makes a joke and says you probably weren’t very good if you had to practice.  What is the play on words here?

Vanessa, Bruno’s mother begins to see the humanity in the Jews and also the horror in how they are being treated by German soldiers.     As she does, she confronts Bruno’s father Ralph.  Ralph responds by saying “you want this; you want this country to be strong.  Jews are not really people at all. “  What did he mean by this? 

What little boy did Bruno befriend at the camp?  How old was he? 

Bruno said that the two boys should not be friends.  What did he mean by that?

Do you remember the “propaganda” film the Nazi officials watched about the concentration camps?  It made the camps look so nice.  Why did the Germans produce films like this that did not reflect reality? Did you understand the scene at the grave site?  The commander’s mother, who was very much in disagreement with the German military’s activities died and some flowers were laid on her tomb with the Third Reich symbol on them.  Vanessa said “she wouldn’t have wanted that.”  But Ralph stopped Vanessa from protesting saying “He does.”  Who is Ralph speaking about?  Ralph did not follow his mother’s wishes.  Why?

The end of the film is extremely sad.  We could also call it symbolic.  What does it symbolize?