MOVIE REVIEW: The Book Thief

GENRE: Drama

RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 10 minutes

STARRING: Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Emily Watson (War Horse), Sophie Nélisse (Monsieur Lazhar) and Nico Liersch (film debut)

DIRECTED BY: Brian Percival (About a Girl)

RATING: 8/10

Currently screening at Ster-Kinekor Northgate

PLOT: This film is set in Nazi Germany and brilliantly captures what life was like for German communities living under Nazi rule. The Book Thief is the story of an orphaned girl named Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse). Liesel is orphaned after her brother dies and her mother, a communist, cannot look after her as she is in danger. Liesel is then delivered to foster parents Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa Hubermann (Emily Watson). When she arrives, Liesel makes an impression on a neighborhood boy, Rudy Steiner (Nico Liersch) and they become friends. When Hans, her stepfather, realizes that Liesel cannot read, he begins to teach her, using the book that she took from her brother’s grave. Liesel becomes obsessed with reading anything she can get her hands on.

THE GOOD: This movie highlights the compassion of humanity and reminds us of how precious life is. The actors suit their roles perfectly and deliver heart-wrenching performances. The movie has a ‘real’ feel to it and makes you understand how life was really like for people living in Germany during the Nazi rule.

THE BAD: It is very sad. If you are a sensitive viewer, this movie may not be for you.

VERDICT: I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone, it’s a beautiful story. It tugged at my heart-strings and I cried most of the way through it. Ladies, this movie will ruin your makeup.

*Thanks to Ster-Kinekor Northgate for making the review possible.