The Book Thief

The Book Thief is a 2013 American war drama film based on the novel of the same name by Markus Zusak, directed by Brian Percival and written by Michael Petroni, with a musical score composed by John Williams. The film stars Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch, and Joachim Paul Assböck. 

The movie The Book Thief has been called one of the worst World War II movies ever made. I disagree. We all have seen movies that play in Nazi Germany before and during the war. There are others where Jews have been saved by Germans who endangered their own lives. 

What intrigued me about this film was the young main character, a nine-year –old –girl, Liesl, played by Canadian acting novice Sophie Nélisse, an exceptionally beautiful young girl, who also trained in ice skating for the Olympics  as I heard in an interview. Her acting skills seem effortless and natural.    

Liesl ends up in foster care with a very rough and ready couple, the Hubermans, in Molching, near Munich; they take her in for the money. Herr Huberman is unemployed because he hasn’t joined the NSDAP, the Nazi party. Frau Huberman makes a modest living for the family by doing other people’s laundry. Liesl’s real mother was arrested and sent to the camps as a presumed communist. Her brother, who was supposed to live with their new foster family too, dies while on the train to Munich.

In spite of her age, Liesl cannot read properly yet, but her new “Papa”, patiently teaches her how to in an interesting way. Reading opens up a way of coping with reality for Liesl: book burnings, bullying by Hitler youth, poverty, war. A tender friendship with a boy her age (Rudy) develops and a growing bond with the Jew, Max, that the Hubermans are hiding in their basement. Books play a big part in both.

What makes the film stand out for me is that the story is told from an unusual point of view. The narrator is Death who is collecting souls; and according to his own admission, he is very busy in Nazi Germany. Having read the book, I was pleased with the movie. His perspective is easier to follow in the film than in the book.

A drawback that irritated me was the artificial, strong German accent of some actors.  Well, I guess that is Hollywood for you.

While he book has won numerous awards and was listed on The New York Times Best Seller list for over 230 weeks, I only found one Oscar nomination for the film.  I was wondering why the film had received such a bad rap from some critics. Maybe because it highlights the struggle of the German population who are the victims as well?