The Book Thief: Movie Review

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Germany was not an easy place to live during World War II.  That period was tumultuous.  Those who didn't support Hitler did so at their own peril, secrets and dangers abound.  The Book Thief, a movie based on the best-selling book by Markus Zusak, follows some of this, showing what it was like to be a non-Jewish citizen during this time.  But the story mainly follows Liesel, played by Sophie Nélisse, who is a foster child living with a new family: Hans and Rosa (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson.)  It's with these new parents that Liesel learns how to read and gains a love for books, which, during this time, was a dangerous affair.  With hundreds, in not thousands of books being burnt in villages and towns, there isn't a lot of reading material to be found.  In The Book Thief Liesel learns to not only find her courage, but to find her voice as well.

Admittedly I haven't read the book in which this movie is based, and I've read that a lot of parts and themes are lost in this adaptation.  Some reviewers have even criticized this movie for not going deep enough into the horrors of WWII.  This is one girls story and what she experienced.  Meeting and befriending a Jew, hiding underground during bomb raids, and trying to not get caught up in the war movement.  Simply not showing loyalty to the cause was dangerous.

This movie gets into the details of living during WWII while still keeping the movie family friendly.  This isn't lighthearted material by no means, and the fate of many characters isn't kind, but many horrors that would give this movie a R rating is left out.  This is no Schindler's List.

I love this movie.  I love its sweetness and gentle tone.  The celebration of the written word.  When Liesel finds herself in a Library surrounded by books, I couldn't help but be swept away by the romanticism of it.  I understand what she is feeling.

My only real complaint was not realizing till the end of the movie the Narrator's identity: Death.  It was probably explained early on, and I just missed it, but because I missed this fact I was a little confused at times, trying to figure out how this guy fits into everything.

The acting in The Book Thief is spot on and well cast.  The cinematography is breathtaking and beautiful.

Now I need to read the book :0)

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material.