The Book Thief Film review.

                The Book Thief Film Review.

"I wanted to tell the book thief that she was one of the few souls that made me wonder what it was like to live. But in the end there were no words. Only peace. The only truth I truly know is that I am haunted by humans."

Based on the book by Australian writer Markus Zusak which was on the New York Times Best Seller List for over 230 weeks. It's not surprising to learn that Zusak's parents grew up in Nazi Germany. The book was inspired by two real life events: the bombing of Munich and a teenage boy offering bread to an emaciated Jew being marched through the streets. Additional inspiration came from a tale of a real life book thief in Sydney.

The film is closely based on the novel. Directed by Brian Percival and scripted by Michael Petroni, it was filmed in Gorlitz, Saxony, Berlin and Studio Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg covering the period 1938-1946. Geoffrey Rush plays the kindhearted Hans, adopted father to Liesel. Emily Watson is the nagging wife, Rosa, christened the "thunderstorm always rumbling" by Liesel her adopted daughter played by an incredible French-Canadian actress, just 14 years of age, Sophie Nelisse. This is her second film. The soundtrack is provided by John Williams.

The story is narrated by a morality character. If you've ever come across Terry Pratchett's book Mort you'll understand. It's not unusual to use a morality character such as Death but it is original to create a persona with compassion: "I make it a policy to avoid the living." It was also obvious how much he admired Liesel. His presence is threatening and he is always lying in wait: "the bombs were coming thicker now. It's probably fair to say that no-one was able to serve the Fuhrer as loyally as me."

Liesel Meminger is just nine at the beginning of the film. Abandoned by her father, her mother labelled a Communist and therefore an enemy of the Nazi Germany she was running for her life and was forced to give up her two children, Liesel and Werner. Unfortunately fate stepped in and Werner died on the train journey to Molching. He was buried at the side of the railway track and what is interesting is that the funeral director dropped a book and an illiterate Liesel picked it up and hid it inside her coat. This is the first of many books that she steals. It is certainly not the most engaging of books for a young child and Hans is bemused when he tells her it is called The Gravedigger's Handbook which he reads to her religiously every night, teaching her how to read. She cherishes the book and this is where her love of reading came from.

In her new home, Liesel befriends "the yellow-haired boy" Rudy Steiner who is always teasing her for a kiss. They would have started dating had it not been for the war and probably settled down together. "I want to grow up before I die." But alas, that wasn't to be.

Max Vandenburg  comes to the Hubermanns desperate to escape from the Nazi regime, arresting Jews and sending them to concentration camps, to their deaths. His father had saved Hans' life during the first world war so it was Hans' way of repaying some of this debt. It was dangerous and the family could have been killed for hiding a Jew. Liesel grew close to Max. When he first arrives he clutches a book and like Liesel's odd book, Max's prized possession is Mein Kampf which was Hitler's autobiography. For Xmas he painted over all of the pages and encouraged her to write her life story. He tells her that words are life. When he becomes seriously ill she steals books and reads to him to keep his soul alive. He recovers but has to leave when the family become fearful for their lives: "You'll always be able to find me in your words. That's where I'll live on."

During street parades the Nazis encouraged everyone to burn their books, supposedly marking the end of plutocrats, communists and Jews. Liesel was mortified at having to burn a book and at the end of the parade when everyone has left she returns to the bonfire to retrieve one of the smouldering books. It's The Invisible Man by H.G.Wells. Her initial affiliation to the Hitler Youth Movement with Rudy becomes distasteful as she sees through the indoctrination and cruelty. 

When speaking of her role in hiding Max and willing him to stay alive she tells Hans: "We were just being people. That's what people do." At 14 years of age she is able to understand humanity and compassion.

As a character, Liesel is an inspiration to others having tolerated endless suffering and loss. Her world falls apart and her saving grace was her love of reading which then became translated into writing her autobiography so that all those precious lives which were lost can live on through her precious words.

"One small fact. You are going to die. No one lives forever. sorry to be such a spoiler. My advice is, when the time comes, don't panic. It doesn't seem to help."

Be warned, it is a tear-jerker but it's good to be reminded that the Germans suffered intolerable losses just like their allies. With great wars like this one, you can't expect any happy endings can you? War kills. Enough said.

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

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