一個八歲男孩因為父親工作變動,隨家人搬到偏僻的鄉下,住在一所孤獨的房子里。因沒有玩伴而苦惱的他無意中遇見了一個同齡男孩子。聽上去,這似乎是一個溫馨友情故事的開始,但故事的背景卻非同尋常:故事發生在二戰期間,前者的父親是德國納粹軍官,其工作職責就是負責集中營的運作。后者是集中營里一個猶太男孩,他與營里所有的猶太人一樣,都穿著條紋服裝。兩個同樣孤獨的同齡孩子在這種特殊環境下建立了友誼。

由于事先并不知道故事的發展方向及結局,小編邊看邊設想出多個不同版本的結尾:兩人的純真友誼感化了他們身邊的人,集中營里的人全部獲救(顯然太美好了);當軍官的父親被兒子與猶太男孩的友誼感動,特許猶太男孩逃過一劫(不算完滿,但也救了主角一命);猶太男孩因某種原因活了下來,多年后與軍官的兒子偶遇(經典電影套路);猶太男孩最終無法逃脫進毒氣室的命運,讓他的朋友痛不欲生(實在是慘,但也符合歷史常理)……在電影結束前十分鐘,小編終于“預見”到了故事的結局,感到揪心的痛,不忍往下看了。
人們常說,歷史給人開了個玩笑。其實,是我們自己給自己開玩笑。《穿條紋睡衣的男孩》向我們呈現了歷史令人難以直視的殘酷。在紀念世界反法西斯戰爭勝利70周年之際,本刊特別介紹《穿條紋睡衣的男孩》,希望藉此提醒每一個人:忘記歷史是最大的悲劇。
The farmers, they wear pajamas.
(After moving into a new house in the countryside, Bruno spots people working at a structure in the distance.)
Mum: And play with who?
Bruno: The children over on the farm.
Mum: Farm? I didn’t see a farm.
Bruno: You can only see it from my room.
Mum: Mmm…and there’re some children there?
Bruno: Yes, quite a few.
Mum: Oh, that’s good.
Bruno: So, I’ll be able to play with them?
Mum: I don’t see why not.
Bruno: I’ll wait a little bit, just to see what they’re like, because they look a bit strange.
Mum: The children do?
Bruno: Well, and the farmers.
Mum: What sort of strange?
Bruno: The farmers, they wear pajamas.
(Bruno sneaks out of the house and eventually arrives at an electric barbed wire fence. He sees a boy sitting behind the fence.)
Bruno: Hello. I’m exploring. What are you doing?
Shmuel: We’re…we’re building a new hut.
Bruno: Have you got lots of friends over there?
Shmuel: A few. But we fight a lot. That’s why I like being out here. I can be on my own.
Bruno: I’m Bruno.
Shmuel: Shmuel.
Bruno: Sorry?
Shmuel: I’m Shmuel.
Bruno: That’s your name? Never heard of anyone called that before.
Shmuel: I’ve never heard of anyone called Bruno.
Bruno: But Shmuel. No one’s called Shmuel. I live in the house, back there.
Shmuel: Have you got any food on you?
Bruno: No. Are you hungry?
Shmuel: Mm.
Bruno: How old are you?
Shmuel: Eight.
Bruno: Me, too! It’s not fair, me being stuck over here on my own while you’re over there, playing with friends all day.
Shmuel: Playing?
Bruno: (points to the number on Shmuel’s striped uniform) Well, that number. Isn’t it a part of a game or something?
Shmuel: It’s just my number. Everyone gets given a different number.
Bruno: Oh, right. Then what happens?
Shmuel: I have to go back now!
Bruno: Really?
Shmuel: Yeah.
Bruno: It was nice to meet you, Shmuel.
Shmuel: And you, Bruno.

那里的農民,他們總穿著睡衣。