I went to see this movie with my husband on Saturday evening and what a truly moving, poignant and exceptional movie it was.
IMDB says: While subjected to the horrors of World War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. In the basement of her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
Sophie Nélisse (The Family Parent, Monsieur Lazhar) stars as Liesl Meminger, a young girl sent by her mother to Germany to live with new parents. Unable to write, her new father Hans Hubermann (the excellent Geoffrey Rush of The King's Speech, Shakespeare in Love) helps her by reading with her a gravediggers handbook that she stole at the funeral of her brother and using the basement walls to write new words upon, she soon learns the power and knowledge of books. Her new mother Rosa, played by the fantastic Emily Watson (War Horse, The Water Horse), hides her heart behind a strict façade but is the strength of the family unit in times of trouble.
Nico Liersch (Blackout, Kokowääh 2 ) plays her best friend Rudy Steiner who seems intent on stealing a kiss, but is there for her throughout, whether it be the local bully or in keeping dangerous secrets.
Both of these young actors held the scenes with aplomb, really engaging the viewer and I predict long careers for them both.
When Max Vandenburg (Ben Schnetzer of Ben's Plan, Happy Town) comes to stay with the family, no-one must know that he is there and to keep him entertained in his confinement, Liesl steals books from a local wealthy family to read to him so that he can imagine a world outside the basement.
There are problems with the movie, not least the strange accents that most of the actors seem to be using and the rushed ending, but the style is very reminiscent of classics like It's a Wonderful Life and I found this endearing.
The film is also beautifully shot and Brian Percival's direction lends it a lush reality that enhances both the dark and light moments. It is fascinating to see the War from the German perspective, the book burning, the turning away when others are persecuted, the false hope that the propaganda gives the ordinary family and the omnipotent narrator throughout, cements the message that our lives are but fleeting on the world, but love is our legacy.
I thoroughly recommend this film to all, whether you are a bibliophile or not, but do take tissues.
Tagline: Courage beyond words 8.5/10
#TheBookThief
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