FILM REVIEW | The Book Thief

Everyone dies; it’s a simply fact of, ironically, life. No one can escape Death; no can cheat Death; and no can hide from Death. But Death, in his continuous journey of meeting people in their final moments, has seen both the beautiful and ugly side that reside in humanity. But in some cases, Death finds someone to fixate upon in order to question the truth behind what it means to be human. Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) unfortunately finds herself as Death’s latest fascination.

The Story

Based on the novel by Markus Zusak, the film follows the tale of Liesel, an orphan who finds herself in the mercy of a “new father” and a “new mother”. Narrated by Death, much like the book, the film takes us through Liesel’s story throughout the rise and fall of Nazi Germany.

I haven’t read the book, which is unfortunate, because this film is absolutely moving. Much like The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas, the story is a combination of innocence, intrigue and a deeper insight to humanity. Since it’s being told from the perspective of someone who doesn’t understand that both good and bad reside in the same person, the film simply shows the story as it is – people who choose to do good, and people who choose to do bad; people who listen and follow blindly, and people who listen and silently question; above all, it shows no matter where people are from or who people are, the anyone can be family.

Since I can’t compare the film to the book, I have to say that the story was well told, even if I wasn’t sure about the narration at first. Personally, I think there didn’t need to be a narrator, but I do understand that there needs to be a correlation between the book and film.

The Cast

Sophie Nélisse – This is the first film I’ve seen this young actress in, but she was a striking and believable Liesel. Her connection with her cast members were authentic and she made me believe everything she said and did. She was just beautifully brilliant for this role.

Geoffrey Rush – Another excellent role for the Aussie actor. He played the role of Liesel’s father figure, Hans, incredibly well. He made me laugh, cry and restored my faith in humanity. Kudos to Mr Rush for an outstanding performance!

Emily Watson – I love Watson when’s she feisty, and as Liesel’s adopted mother, Rosa, she was brilliant in portraying a nagging wife with her big-heart secretly locked inside. She was never over the top in her rudeness, and she was believable in her portrayal of a woman who cares too much about everything and everyone.

Nico Liersch – playing Nélisse’s love interest and best friend, Rudy, Liersch was both the comic relief and a picture of innocence. Portraying a boy who called things as they were and dared to challenged all that he could, I thought Liersch was an outstanding support for Nélisse.

Ben Schnetzer – Although his character spent most of the time in the basement, his portrayal as Liesel’s adopted brother-figure, Max, was sensational. He played the role of the protective and instructive, loving older brother who encouraged his sister to be her best and nourished the curiosity and talent within her. Kudos to Schentzer for a moving performance.

Overall, The Book Thief is definitely one you take your whole family to. It moved me to tears on several occasions due to the fact that it was centred nicely on the family unit – no matter what it looked like. The story is incredible and the cast are phenomenal. Go see it today, seriously.

Star Rating: ★★★★★

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