As Lenses Became Eyes

As Lenses Became Eyes

          Hello! I want to share this great movie to you, which is part of my "like" list. It is entitled The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I've discovered this movie before since I'm doing some research on Asa Butterfield upon seeing the movie Hugo, that he himself played the main character. I browsed on his filmography and that's it! I saw the plot and find it interesting [also I'm kind of into this films that involve history/drama and all that stuff, you know what I mean :)] so that made me watch it.

Let me share this clip from the movie itself. [I'm pertaining to 1:46-8:30 ;)]

           The scene is... a boy, Bruno (Asa Butterfield), felt miserable because he misses their old house, old neighborhood where he can play with his friends, so he decided to make a swing to have at least some sort of fun. He likes exploring. He wanted to see what's behind that "farm" and wonders if there can be anyone whom he can play with. The "farm" is an extermination camp where Nazi gas-chamber-to-death the imprisoned Jews. While swinging, he noticed a smoke coming from afar (to what he calls "farm"). He tried to peep by stepping at the swing tire but he loses balance and fell off. Pavel (David Hayman), a Jew slave, came to rescue him. While treating Bruno's wound, they've had a small conversation but a meaningful one, especially to Pavel. Meanwhile the mother came, asked what happen and later told Bruno to go to his room. She said "Thank you" to Pavel and then left. 

        Based on how we analyze films during discussions on our VIDPROD (video production) class, I shall view and share with you how the "tech" is related to the message of each scenes. ^^D

          At the part where Bruno is lying under a tree, first there was a full/crane shot of him and then a POV shot (Point of View) of him staring at the tree. That probably shows how he reminisce and felt miserable. Then he stood up and saw his sister, Gretel and Lt. Kotler (there's a long shot there, again it's his POV and then a medium shot, MS, to view closer). He went to them and then asked for a tire. The conversation of Bruno and Lt. Kotler have Over-the-Shoulder shots, OTS. It shows the relation of the two person talking to each other. As you might notice, the sister is seen only through full shots of the three of them, MS with Lt. Kotler and only one close-up but through the depth of Lt. Kotler's arms [3:01]. It show that she is depending on Lt. Kotler and not have a clear stand for herself. It probably means that she's now into the Nazi Propaganda because of all the flirting and the amazed view of a "German soldier" to Lt. Kotler. 


[at 3:45] As Bruno and Pavel, goes to the storage house to get a tire, there are tracking and dolly shots. There's also a POV of Bruno to Pavel [3:48] because of the Low angle shot. It shows that he just follows Pavel. The next scene is when Bruno is on the swing. I'm amazed on how smooth the camera follows Bruno as he swings. I believe it's hard to control! :) There is a quick, I'm not sure if it's a High Angle or Overhead shot, seen coming from the tree trunk above. Then there's a long shot of the trees where in smoke builds up from afar. There's a low angle shot of Bruno trying to stand at the swing. As he falls off, there's an oblique angle shot or a some sort of "camera fell also" shot to show how Bruno fell. It's like the POV of Bruno. There's also a subtle but a quick shot of the tire from underneath, it's like the reverse of an overhead shot. As the tire passed by the camera from below, it made me think that it shows how fast the fall might be. Then a POV shot of Bruno again is there when the scene became blurry and is tilted and in oblique angle as if the viewers also fell of and lay on the ground. 

          As Pavel put first aid on Bruno's wounded knee, an establishing shot was first seen. It's the FS of them at the kitchen. As they converse, some are OTS shots and some are FS but the setting is symbolic because Bruno is on top of the table while Pavel is sitting at one corner peeling potatoes. It shows that the image of Pavel is very poor and pityful. Also the shots on Pavel is in high angle from Bruno's position. As Bruno's mom came, she let Bruno go and thanked Pavel. The shot is not OTS but a close-up shot. She means it but it doesn't show the relation of her talking to Pavel, then she leaves. The last full shot was on Pavel, looking at her and then continued peeling the potatoes. For me, Pavel, at least, felt the care and the "no margin state" that time even though he is a slave and a Jew.

          All conversation shots follow the 180 degree rule. Also some shots follow the Rule of Thirds to make it not boring to see. A lot of POV shots were on the scenes of the movie so that viewers could get attached to how Bruno sees things during Holocaust and how he lives in those times. The shots aim to let viewers be on the scenes, like as if they are there (or be like Bruno). The movie basically shows the life of a boy and how his young mind tries to adapt to his state.


For those who haven't watched it yet, I hope this gave you the interest. Happy watching guys! [I mean not literal because it's a drama, hehe] :)


-Cha :)