The Boy in Striped Pajamas

Once a month, Gallery Stratford has a movie night at our local cinemas as a fundraiser.  The movies are always really good - much more to my taste than the geared-to-high-school fare usually on offer.

 

Last night it was The Boy in Striped Pajamas and the theatre was packed.

It's always a friendly crowd, the same faces every month, friends saying hi to friends and chatting in the aisles before and after the show.

I didn't know much about the movie, except that it was about two young boys on either side of the barbed wire at a concentration camp.  Which is a bit like saying that Titanic was about a boat.  LET'S JUST LEAVE OUT THE ESSENCE, SHALL WE?

It's a fantastic movie, with great acting and beautiful scenery.  And it moves along at a measured pace, toying with you the whole way.

I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone.  But I was shocked when the credits rolled.  I just sat there in silence, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

And then I realized that the whole audience was feeling the same way.  We all sat there in stunned silence as the credits continued.

And after a few minutes, we got up, in stunned silence and walked, in silence, up the aisle and out the door.  Silently.

You should go see this movie. 

It won't make you happy.  It will not renew your faith in humanity.  It is not the feel-good movie of the year.

But really?  You should go see it.