I had not read the book, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Or even heard of it. Why should I go see the movie, when there are so many choices in theaters?
This clip is why I wanted to see this movie. Watch it here. It’s beautiful and heart wrenching and hopeful.
The Book Thief (2013 PG-13), directed by Brian Percival, is a drama taking place in Germany as the Nazi’s push their plans for a master race upon it’s citizens. We witness this through the eyes of young Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), an orphan adopted by a childless couple, gruff Rosa (Emily Watson) and playful Hans (Geoffrey Rush).
Liesel blossoms under their care, and even learns to read. A neighborhood boy, Rudy (Nico Liersch), befriends her, and we see them play and adapt to life during wartime.
She takes part in school-wide Nazi songs and witnesses neighbors being taken away because they are Jews and fathers being drafted for the war. She watches a book burning, and cannot understand why books are bad.
Early on, the parents take in a desperate Jewish teenager, Max (Ben Schnetzer), who needs to be hidden from the Nazis. Liesel shares her love of books with him.
Amazing acting by all the players. You can feel the citizens under stress, feel the cold, feel the hunger. An excellent movie!
I didn’t read the book first. Did you?
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