‘The Book Thief’ documents girl’s life amid turmoils of WWII

The Book Thief, the bestselling novel about World War II, has been made into an emotional movie that delivers an engaging storyline about living under the oppression of Germany’s dictatorship. Young Liesel (a great Sophie Nélisse) is shipped off to foster parents in Germany and must deal with the constant realities of the hellish war. Her new parental figures are Hans and Rosa (Geoffrey Rush and Emma Watson), two good-hearted souls who try to give the young girl some semblance of normalcy.

Hans is the practical joker in the couple while Rosa dispenses the sternness. They have very little to their name, and it seems to grow littler by the day, but they still provide for Liesel. Events change for this new family when Max (Ben Schnetzer), a Jewish refugee, lands at their doorstep seeking asylum. Hans and Rosa decide to shelter Max and hide him in the basement, away from the ever-snooping authorities.

While life-and-death situations happen throughout the neighborhood, Liesel takes an interest in reading books, even if she has to steal them. For her, literature and words are an avenue of escape and chance to remember her family. This is how she deals with the horrors of the personal war that keeps knocking on the front door.

The Book Thief sometimes can feel too simplistic, as if the screenwriters are more interested in formula rather than an organic evolution of the events. This tidiness is somewhat unwelcome in a movie about an unbelievably destructive war where the horrors of humankind were so violently apparent.

However, by focusing on Liesel, director Brian Percival and screenwriter Michael Petroni are able to portray the events of WWII through the eyes of a child. This unique perspective is interesting and can lend to some highly dramatic scenes. When Liesel is snooping around the library of the local military officer’s house, there’s a genuine tension in the narrative.

The staging of the war-torn streets and outbreak of several battles are expertly handled. Everything has a top-notch production value, lending authenticity to the story.

The performances are perfect. Rush and Watson are admirable professionals, while Schnetzer delivers a heartbreaking performance. Nélisse steals the movie, though, constantly infusing her role with hurt and enthusiasm. We watch this young lady grow up amid the perils of a world war, and sometimes it feels as if she’s internally battling over her natural coming-of-age and her unbelievable surroundings.

The Book Thief is not the best film to depict the events of WWII. In fact, there’s far better narratives that feel less formulaic and literary. However, for young adults who may be learning the lessons of the Holocaust and understanding the ramifications of WWII for the first time, the movie, and I’m sure its original source material, can be engaging and educational. It’s very easy to give oneself over to this story. It feels like a book that refuses to be put down.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Book Thief

• 2013

• Directed by Brian Percival

• Written by Michael Petroni; based on the book by Markus Zusak

• Starring Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emma Watson and Ben Schnetzer

• Running time: 131 minutes

• Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material

• Rating: