‘Book Thief’ will steal your heart
Print Edition
Rarely has a story about an angelic schoolgirl been narrated by Death. But such is the case in the dark, yet wondrous Nazi Germany-set “The Book Thief.”
“Here’s a small fact: You are going to die,” we’re told via voiceover by the Grim Reaper as we meet our young heroine, Liesel Meminger, played exquisitely by 13-year-old French-Canadian newcomer Sophie Nelisse.
Traveling by train in 1939, Liesel and her ailing younger brother are being taken to a small German town by their poor mother. There, they’ll be handed over to new foster parents. But as a line of blood drips from her motionless sibling’s nose, Liesel’s large blue eyes widen in horror as she discovers her brother has died. She must embrace her new life alone.
At her brother’s funeral, a gravedigger misplaces his “Gravedigger’s Handbook” and Liesel grabs it. This becomes her connection to the past — she cradles the book when she sleeps and keeps a photo of her brother tucked between the pages.
Based on Markus Zusak’s 2006 best-selling young-adult novel, “The Book Thief” is a bittersweet wartime drama about an uneducated little girl who grows into a polished author. Directed by Brian Percival (“Downton Abbey”), the film shines a bright light on Nelisse, a fresh young talent whose expressive eyes say everything.
The film also stars the brilliant Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush as Rosa and Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s adoptive parents. Rosa is strict and rigid, while the accordion-toting Hans is tender and armed with a delightful sense of humor. From the moment he meets Liesel, he calls her “Your Majesty.” His warmth helps relieve her uneasiness.
As a couple, Rosa and Hans offer much-needed comic relief. Watson is her usual dynamic self, especially when bickering at Rush’s Hans. Rush plays the part of the lax husband, his kind nature a far cry from sinister roles he’s portrayed in “Quills” or “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
When Max Vandernburg (Ben Schnetzer), the son of a Jewish soldier who gave his life for Hans in World War I, arrives at the Hubermanns’ doorstep, the couple take him in. But, they must hide him in their basement. Liesel and Max become fast friends. They bond over literature and share a common vice: They’ve both stolen books.
Max encourages Liesel to read (Hans has been teaching her how) and to eventually write. When Max falls ill, Liesel spends hours reading to him from books she’s swiped from a rich couple, for whom Rosa does laundry.
Liesel is unaffected by the adoration of a new neighbor, Rudy Steiner (Nico Liersch), a sweet-faced blonde who dreams of being a sprinter like his idol, African-American track and field great Jesse Owens. Though Rudy’s requests to kiss Liesel go unanswered, the two become close enough that Liesel shares her biggest secret: Her family is harboring a Jew.
Despite saluting the decree of Hitler during a large book burning (at which Liesel steals another book), Rudy keeps this secret. His loyalty sharpens their bond and when he asks why she steals books, Liesel confides, “When life robs you, sometimes you have to rob it back.”
With dreamy scenes of the German countryside, the visual scope of the film is remarkable. But just as our narrator told us: Death is imminent. As the Nazis reign, the movie closes on a sob-worthy note. Still, Liesel’s triumphs keep our heads up.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
