THE BOOK THIEF
Starring Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush
Directed by Brian Percival
Markus Zusaks bestselling novel The Book Thief gets the Hallmark treatment for its big screen adaptation, but is thankfully held together by compelling acting and gorgeous cinematography.
The story begins with young Liesel (Monsieur Lazhars Sophie Nelisse) being sent to live with a foster family (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) in WWII Germany. The girl soon finds solace amidst the growing tension by stealing books and sharing them with friends, including a Jewish refugee being sheltered in the homes basement.
The film serves up several strong performances; Nelisse is an incredible young talent, Watson plays against type as the brash wife and Rush churns out another charismatic turn as the endearing Hans.
The acting, coupled with a stirring score from veteran composer John Williams, and the crisp lighting by Florian Ballhaus certainly make for a pleasing viewing experience.
However, The Book Thiefs sanitized view of Nazi Germany and overbearing sentimentality impede the movie from attaining something more than a superficial historical account.
Characters seemingly face constant peril as the plot escalates but the hostile forces are never more than derivative caricatures of generic Nazi soldiers.
Director Brian Percival somehow manages to keep the films integrity intact as the grim narration by the character of Death himself anchors the themes, while still remaining appropriate viewing for children.
The Book Thiefs unique perspective and narrative, combined with some touching performances give the film some vibrancy but it feels like a missed opportunity; the intentions are clearly earnest but a little too simplistic.
