I can't speak for other people, but for me The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is a film that can be seen once and once only because the impact is so shattering. Not even a stone statue can be not moved by this film, this child's eye view of the Holocaust.
Bruno is an 8 year old German kid whose father David Thewlis is an officer in the Wehrmacht. They're living a nice life in the beginning of World War II in metropolitan Berlin. Thewlis gets orders however shipping him to a command in a nice rural area of southern Germany, presumably Bavaria. Like any other kid he's upset at being dislocated from his friends and his school, but he certainly hasn't much to say in the matter.
So the family is uprooted to a lovely pastoral area where Dad's been put in charge of a concentration camp. Not one of the bigger ones like Auschwitz and Dachau, but a small one that his superiors expect Thewlis to run efficiently.
Young Bruno has absolutely no one to play with and he wanders over to the camp. His parents feel he's way too young to understand about these things and he makes friends with a kid on the other side of the barbed wire, a young Jewish boy named Shmuel who wears those funny striped pyjamas like everyone else in the camp.
Two things struck me about The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. When I did a review of The Diary Of Anne Frank, the biggest impression I got out of the film was the ordinariness of that small group of Jews hidden in that attic. Who could possibly think these people were any kind of threat to civilization simply for being and believing in their faith? We get to see the other side of the looking glass here, a view of this very average German family, besides young Bruno and Thewlis, there's mother Vera Famiga and daughter Amber Beattie. Famiga is not happy one bit with her domestic situation and it's slowly dawning on her that the politics and policies of the Third Reich is the root of her concerns. As for Beattie, she's really buying into the whole Nazi thing, partly because she's going through puberty and a young and handsome aide to her father played by Rupert Friend is stirring up those first womanly feelings.
But to all intents and purposes this is your average German family, not too much different than the Frank family in that attic, but that this regime of hate has made Thewlis a death merchant.
The second thing that struck me and it's what gives hope to this crazy world is what passes between Asa Butterfield as Bruno and Jack Scanlon as Shmuel. If all we are as humans are reflections of our parents prejudices there would be absolutely no hope for mankind. But we do grow, we do question, some of us just don't accept everything that's fed to us. We don't see Shmuel's world of the camp until the very end, the boys mostly have contact with a barbed wire fence between them. But we see Bruno and his sister being now home schooled in Nazi teachings and his innocent contact with that kid on the other side of the fence makes him question what's going on.
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is one of the best films of 2009. You will not forget the performances of Butterfield and Scanlon and the adult cast members. The end will shatter your mind, but the film's depiction of friendship growing in the worst possible circumstances is also a message of hope.
Critic about "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"
I can't speak for other people, but for me The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is a film that can be seen once and once only because the impact is so shattering. Not even a stone statue can be not moved by this film, this child's eye view of the Holocaust.
Bruno is an 8 year old German kid whose father David Thewlis is an officer in the Wehrmacht. They're living a nice life in the beginning of World War II in metropolitan Berlin. Thewlis gets orders however shipping him to a command in a nice rural area of southern Germany, presumably Bavaria. Like any other kid he's upset at being dislocated from his friends and his school, but he certainly hasn't much to say in the matter.
So the family is uprooted to a lovely pastoral area where Dad's been put in charge of a concentration camp. Not one of the bigger ones like Auschwitz and Dachau, but a small one that his superiors expect Thewlis to run efficiently.
Young Bruno has absolutely no one to play with and he wanders over to the camp. His parents feel he's way too young to understand about these things and he makes friends with a kid on the other side of the barbed wire, a young Jewish boy named Shmuel who wears those funny striped pyjamas like everyone else in the camp.
Two things struck me about The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. When I did a review of The Diary Of Anne Frank, the biggest impression I got out of the film was the ordinariness of that small group of Jews hidden in that attic. Who could possibly think these people were any kind of threat to civilization simply for being and believing in their faith? We get to see the other side of the looking glass here, a view of this very average German family, besides young Bruno and Thewlis, there's mother Vera Famiga and daughter Amber Beattie. Famiga is not happy one bit with her domestic situation and it's slowly dawning on her that the politics and policies of the Third Reich is the root of her concerns. As for Beattie, she's really buying into the whole Nazi thing, partly because she's going through puberty and a young and handsome aide to her father played by Rupert Friend is stirring up those first womanly feelings.
But to all intents and purposes this is your average German family, not too much different than the Frank family in that attic, but that this regime of hate has made Thewlis a death merchant.
The second thing that struck me and it's what gives hope to this crazy world is what passes between Asa Butterfield as Bruno and Jack Scanlon as Shmuel. If all we are as humans are reflections of our parents prejudices there would be absolutely no hope for mankind. But we do grow, we do question, some of us just don't accept everything that's fed to us. We don't see Shmuel's world of the camp until the very end, the boys mostly have contact with a barbed wire fence between them. But we see Bruno and his sister being now home schooled in Nazi teachings and his innocent contact with that kid on the other side of the fence makes him question what's going on.
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is one of the best films of 2009. You will not forget the performances of Butterfield and Scanlon and the adult cast members. The end will shatter your mind, but the film's depiction of friendship growing in the worst possible circumstances is also a message of hope.
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!
Celebrating this Chinese New Year is so special to everyone. Let us all welcome the Chinese New Year and May have a good lucks to All!
Watching the live of US President Barack
Time: 12:30am in CNN(I don't like Local Channel haha)
I felt so happy to watch this live of US President Obama in my big television. I'm using laptop in order to catch up to see the Inauguration of Barack Obama. I'm fan of his because he can change his own country. But what about here in the Philippines? It really sucks with the government that they cannot change everything though it's still the same. I just wanted to see how America can change the whole thing.
This is my first time that I had seen so many people standing and waiting even they are too freezing. I don't know if they can stand it with cold weather. Gosh, *faints* to watch haha..
Yay! US President Obama arrive the platform. I don't know how I felt but just to watch it though haha. Raising their American flag is too way formal hehe. Wow, 240,000 free tickets.. Wish I could work in US government haha.. *joke* I am not American citizen neh but I have relatives living there.
Hearing from US Sen. Diane from California, it was really good speech. After the next speaker is Rick Warren, he's the author of "The Purpose of Driven Life" ( I read his book and it was really good). I am Catholic though I can hear his prayer that touch my heart.
Now, the next performer is Aretha Franklin. Oh, she sang the American Anthem. Watching them and it fills my eyes tears. I don't know why I used to do that but to cry hehe. It's really good.
And the next oath is Vice President Joe Biden with his family. Wow, so short oath hehe. I never knew that the oath is just too short. Gahh, I'm waiting for Pres. to take an oath though the time here is very late and I have a class tomorrow morning hehe.
The song is Air and Simple Gifts. I don't know that song haha but it's really good haha. I supposed to play the piano although I didn't practice. My youngest brother plays very well when he started to play at the age of 6 or 7 years old up to now. He's 11 years old and he is in fifth grade.
Yeah, he's going to oath right away. It's 1:05AM. Gosh, I'm so sleepy haha. Woah, so short oath and that's cool. His family waving at the people and that's like a royal hehe. Sorry if I sounded so different haha.
Woohoo! Barack Obama now becomes President of the United States of America. At last, he's going to speech in front of his people.
Wow, hearing his speech is very deep and very broaden his knowledge to be able to give hopes to American people. He says that the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Obama emphasized that his biggest challenge is to repair the tattered economy left behind by outgoing President George W. Bush.
Woohoo! Barack Obama now becomes President of the United States of America. At last, he's going to speech in front of his people.
Wow, hearing his speech is very deep and very broaden his knowledge to be able to give hopes to American people. He says that the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Obama emphasized that his biggest challenge is to repair the tattered economy left behind by outgoing President George W. Bush. "Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed," he said in an undisguised shot at Bush administration policies. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America."
Still, he bluntly warned, "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."
"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
He said it was a moment to recall "that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Obama called for a political truce in Washington to end "the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."
He said that all Americans have roles in rebuilding the nation by renewing the traditions of hard work, honesty and fair play, tolerance, loyalty and patriotism.
"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility, a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."
"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works," the new president said.
In his remarks, Obama took stock of the nation's sobering problems.
"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood," he said.
"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age," Obama said. "Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
It was the first change of administrations since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Crowds filled the Mall for a distant glimpse of the proceedings or just, in the words of many, simply "to be here."
I admired his charisma, intelligent and of course, truly good man. I know that his mother taught him very well. He sure does very confident when he speaks truthfully and I can see how he acts but I know he's doing right thing to shown to his people though I'm so thankful that he is really a President of the United States of America. The next person is Elizabeth, she's a poet. I love poet you know haha. The last is the end of the prayer. *so sleepy* It's already 1:35AM. "It's time to begin to rebuild America and start to work in action." I like that motto. Young and untested, Obama is a man of enormous confidence and electrifying oratorical skills. Hopes for Obama are extremely high, suggesting that Americans are willing to give him a long honeymoon to strengthen the economy and lift the financial gloom. I'm glad that everything turns good. Everyone, have a nice weekend! :)
Midterm Exam
There is midterm exam on tuesday, Jan. 13-15 including Saturday. Too bad, wasn't able to study all just because I have workloads to do specially with the website project. Although, I couldn't blogged last week due to stress. Hmm.. Pray for me til I get passed all the subjects. Hopefully I would get 90% haha.. :)
Have a nice day!
Sidetrip: Baguio and Advertisement
I went to Baguio last Dec. 28-30, 2008 for 3 days and 2 nights. It's our family vacation without my younger brother who is working with his thesis. He's fifth year taking up Architecture in UST. Although, he's witty guy and has quiet sense of humility. Well, here are the photos I took but mostly are "still life photos"
Now that I took those shots are full of life.. I can show you my family though I haven't organized it. :)
Now that I took those shots are full of life.. I can show you my family though I haven't organized it. :)
++++
This is advertisement of my aunt and her son(no name despite of privacy).
This is advertisement of my aunt and her son(no name despite of privacy).
They are not superstar but though my aunt is just an actress for the sake of her father, Tony Ferrer (he's my granduncle brother of my grandfather).. Did you see the slideshow below that's what Lolo Tony offered me to take a photos of his favorite daughter and her family. That slideshow reminds me when I was small that I could remember my relatives back in 1990's. Though, today, we haven't met due to financial situations. I missed old Laxa Clan back then.. Today is much wider but is a small world you know.. But I'm glad that they're back on track to be with us during events.
I do hope there is another reunion again next year. I do hope to see my cousins again and play them with my camera. :)
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