The book thief is rated pg by the mpaa for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material violence. The book thief, written by markus zusak, portrays the tragic life of a young girl, liesel meminger, living in wartorn germany in the 1940s during world war ii. Based on a bestselling novel penned by australian author markus zusak and now translated into 30 different languages, the book thief isnt a bombastic slaughterofwar pic as much as its a movie about the intimate agonies of life on the outside edges of war. The film is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by markus zusak and adapted by michael petroni. The film is about a young girl living with her adoptive german family during the nazi era. The book thief is a 20 americangerman war drama film about a young girl living with her adoptive german family during the nazi era. I met so many young men over the years who have thought they were running at their enemy, when the truth was. But director brian percivals film squanders the opportunities by squeezing a number of other subplots into the twohour run time. You can find out more in our privacy policy and cookie policy, and manage your consent at any time by going to privacy settings at the bottom of any page. This guy is a fighter in just about all the ways someone can be a fighter. This comingofage tale largely plays out in the period from february 1938 to november 1942, during which time liesels emotional awakening parallels her increasing political maturity. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the book thief and what it means. Based on the beloved international bestselling book, the book thief tells the story of an.
The book thief part three summary and analysis gradesaver. The book of henry trailer 2017 maddie ziegler, naomi watts, drama movie hd duration. Rush is superb as a lovable, complicated man, as is watson, whose stern manner is only a mask. He has written for the new york times, variety, film comment, the village voice, interview, cineaste and other publications. After tragedy strikes her family, liesel is adopted by kindhearted workingclass painter hans hubermann geoffrey rush and his strict but loving wife rose emily watson. In the basement of her home, a jewish refugee is being protected by her adoptive parents. After many unsuccessful visits, this time, the window in the library is open. Geoffrey rush at an event for the book thief 20 ben schnetzer and sophie. The book thief has touched off a minidebate about whether the world needs more holocaust films.
Sony classical 379707 20 music composed and conducted by john williams. The inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl. With sophie nelisse, geoffrey rush, emily watson, ben schnetzer. The book thief reveals how a girl copes during the horrors of adolescence and. Rise fx visual effects supervisor florian gellinger oversaw the films vfx work, hand in hand with rise inhouse supervisor jonathan weber and producer kerstin kensy. The book thief, like the book on which its based, is narrated by death roger allam, who explains that he rarely cares about the stories of the living, with the exception of young liesel meminger sophie nelisse.
Markus zusaks the book thief is an enormously successful novel that has sold more than eight million copies. The book thief part one summary and analysis gradesaver. Weve selected the best movies with generous running times, to sink your teeth into during the shutin. The book thief is brian percivals adaptation of the markus zusak brilliant novel, following the touching story of liesel meminger in germany during the break out of world war ii. The book thief centers on liesel meminger, a spirited young girl who witnesses the horrors of nazi germany while in the care of foster parents. An understated classic, there arent enough movies like this being produced. The book thief study guide contains a biography of markus zusak, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Liesel takes the chance to steal back the whistler. To the reader, death insists that it most definitely can be cheerful, even affable, but also relates that it most certainly cannot be nice.
The film is hamstrung by the novels structure, unsure whether to be a. The girl arrives with a stolen book and begins collecting other tomes, learning to read while her stepparents harbor a. The story, narrated by death himself, follows a young girl as she arrives in a small town in germany to. The book thief, world war ii tale with geoffrey rush the new. The more time she spends with this man, the more she learns about the value of life and of words. This 20 film was based on the 2005 novel of the same name by markus zusak. While some observers might say that line was crossed long ago, others may find that conclusive proof arrives in brian percivals the book thief, based on an international bestseller that the new york times jibed as harry potter and the holocaust. Without giving away the ending of the first book, the time thief continues the adventures of twelveyearolds peter and kate and the many acquaintances they made along their journey in book one.
In the wake of a terrible familial tragedy, the hopeless elevenyearold girl, liesel meminger, is taken in by the compassionate workingclass painter, hans hubermann, and his stern but wellmeaning wife, rosa, in 1938 germany. Brian percival, the director of the book thief, narrates a scene from his film. Her adoptive father teaches her to read, and when the family hides a fleeing jew named max, liesel takes to borrowingstealing books that she reads to help keep his hopes and spirit alive. Based on the bestselling novel by the australian author markus zusak, the son of german and austrian parents, this story is told from the german point of view and probably not coincidentally, begins with voiceover narration by death himself the voice of roger allam. The film may not steal your heart quite as powerfully as zusaks novel, but it is faithful enough to show moviegoers why the characters are so beloved. The book thief 20 roger allam as narrator, death imdb. See the posters, photos, cast, synopsis and official website. Thief 20 geoffrey rush and sophie nelisse in the book thief 20. The book thief, the handsome, inevitable adaptation of markus zusaks internationally bestselling novel, unfolds as a curiosity on the big screen. This time the mayor heinz hermann answers the door, and liesel stammers then. The book thief british board of film classification. Thief of time is the 3rd of these pbs american mystery dramas, produced by robert redford and based on the novels by tony hillerman.
The book thief is lackadaisical and episodic, with an affecting spirit brought to life by all the performances and the exceptional period detail. The book thief is told from two perspectivesthat of death and a young german girl named liesel meminger. Book thief tells story of courage in nazi germany the. Liesl, and the couple who takes her in to get extra rations when her mother, running from the. Whereas the book thief which i really, really like and is probably the book i recommend most often sugarcoats nothing, and although i am the messenger deals with some very tough situations, ultimately everything is always ok, though there are umpteen ways any given episode couldve gone horribly wrong sure, the protagonist gets beaten up. In english and a few words of german with english subtitles. Like zusaks novel, the movie is narrated by death roger allam, who explains that world war ii was an exceptionally busy time for him, and allowed.
The time thief, by linda buckleyarcher, is the second book of her time travel series the gideon trilogy. The book thief book vs film with a book as beloved as markus zusaks the book thief, an adaptation was always going to be a challenge. A summary of themes in markus zusaks the book thief. Death, the collector of souls, arrayed in any or all the worlds colors when it comes, narrates the story of a young girl coming of age during the horrific times of nazi germany and world war ii. Helmed by downton abbey director brian percival, the book thief doesnt carry a heavy warmovie presence. Love while you can because the opportunity could soon be lost. On a snowy night, the book thief liesel meminger and her sixyearold brother werner are traveling with their mother by train to munich, where liesel and her brother are to be given over to foster parents.
In this prewwii germany setting, the fuhrer is rising to power, inciting the nation to war and beginning his. Taught to read by her kindhearted foster father, the girl begins borrowing. While subjected to the horrors of world war ii germany, young liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. But the movie about a girl adopted by a german couple during world war ii. Ratings info contains scenes of emotional distress and moderate threat. Thief is a 1981 american neonoir crime thriller film written, produced and directed by michael mann in his feature film debut.
Confessions of a cat burglar by frank hohimer the pen name of reallife jewel thief john seybold. The film stars james caan as the titular thief, a professional safecracker trying to escape his life of crime, and. In common with the book, the film is narrated by death, voiced here in a rather avuncular manner by roger allam. After returning the book to ilsa, and a craving for thievery, liesel leads rudy to grande strasse, where the mayors house is. Familyfriendly, feelgood emphasis in the book thief paints over the holocaust as well as mein kampf in a wishful narrative set amid catastrophe. Liesel is a young girl who is taken in by a foster family in germany.
At first his age is a bit surprising, because he almost seems like an old man. Scenes of war violence are shown including bombing raids, explosions, burning and destroyed buildings and an injured man. Although liesel sophie nelisse is illiterate when she is adopted by a german couple oscar winner geoffrey rush and emily watson, her adoptive father encourages her to learn to read. The book thief has the use of nazis in movies reached the point of being pornographic. There is a slightly syrupy, tvmovie feel at times, not least in the jarringly upbeat ending, in which a rather implausible reunion with max is followed by a last scene reassuring the viewer of liesels subsequent long and happy life. The book thief is a 20 war drama film directed by brian percival and starring geoffrey rush, emily watson, and sophie nelisse. The book thief has its moments of brilliance, thanks in large part to an adept cast. Book thief examines nazi germany through a childs eyes.