Rent The Book Thief (2013)
3.6 of 5 from 415 ratings
2h 5min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Based on the beloved best-selling book comes the story of a girl who transforms the lives of those around her during World War II, Germany. When her mother can no longer care for her, Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) is adopted by a German couple (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson). Although she arrives illiterate, Liesel is encouraged to learn to read by her adoptive father. When the couple then takes in Max (Ben Schnetzer), a Jew hiding from Hitler's army, Liesel befriends him. Ultimately, words and imagination provide the friends with an escape from the events unfolding around them in this extraordinary, acclaimed film directed by Brian Percival.
- Actors:
- Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Heike Makatsch, Julian Lehmann, Gotthard Lange, Rainer Reiners, Kirsten Block, Nico Liersch, Ludger Bökelmann, Paul Schaefer, Nozomi Linus Kaisar, Oliver Stokowski, Robert Beyer, Hildegard Schroedter, Levin Liam, Ben Schnetzer, Sandra Nedeleff, Rafael Gareisen, Carl Heinz Choynski
- Directors:
- Brian Percival
- Producers:
- Ken Blancato, Karen Rosenfelt
- Voiced By:
- Roger Allam
- Narrated By:
- Roger Allam
- Writers:
- Markus Zusak, Michael Petroni
- Others:
- John Williams
- Studio:
- 20th Century Fox
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- 2014, A Brief History of the Summer Olympics on Film, Children & Family, Children's Books On Screen: Best Adventure Films, CinemaParadiso.co.uk Through Time, A Brief History of Film...
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 05/09/2014
- Run Time:
- 125 minutes
- Languages:
- English Audio Description Dolby Digital 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.40:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Deleted Scenes
- A Hidden Truth: Bringing 'The Book Thief' to Life
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Reviews (8) of The Book Thief
Wonderful, entertaining and moving film - The Book Thief review by PV
This is one of the most moving films about the Second World War that I have ever seen.
I wasn't sure at first if it was a children's film (it isn't) but it didn't matter - the plot and characters soon had me gripped (thou at first I was unsure about the 'Death' narration - by Roger Allam AKA Thursday from ITV;s Endeavour - but yes, that works too).
Some genuine surprises in the plot which no Hollywood movie would ever choose make this even better.
Excellent acting, script, atmosphere. And how great to watch a movie about books too - and some beautiful language and stories.
I haven't read the 2007 book, so no idea how this compares. But this film really is lovely and deeply moving too - and it's unusual too see a film considering World War II from the German side.
5 stars.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Moving - The Book Thief review by CP Customer
Great film - a real insight into the difficulties of living in Nazi Germany, but I would definitely describe it as a film for older children, rather than adults.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Truly Memorable. - The Book Thief review by JL
What a lovely film! On every level it enthralls. Wonderful acting throughout with a story of real depth and humanity.
My wife and I watched it twice in the same day.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Critic review
The Book Thief review by George Hooper - Cinema Paradiso
Having recently watched the impecable Hannah Arendt, it’s hard not to watch The Book Thief and see the world she saw, the people in it hiding their personal hatreds and fears through blind loyalty. However The Book Thief isn’t about that, it’s a tale of moving past fear hatred to the idea of living regardless of the world you have been forced to endure.
The film follows Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) as she is forced by her mother to live with a married couple far away from her home. While she is first aprehensive she finds herself in loving company in the form of new father Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and mother Rosa (Emily Watson). They foster Liesel’s love of books and the written word and encourage her to push herself. However when war reaches Germany her new life and family is tested in many different ways.
Having never read the book the film has been based on I cannot speak for its many fans but I can say that it’s a wonderful film not only through its excellent performances (Rush and Nelisse specifically) but through the way it sees the world. The film has a kind of hopeless optimism to it that sees Liesel and the audience through some horrible events and some trying times. Each character has something to live for, something to strive towards even with everything that is happening to their country and their home, they still want something out of life, a beautifully human desire.
While the film tells a story of people keeping secrets, its the hidden character traits that make it great, be it the soft heart of a previously cold survivalist to the unimaginable kindness of those thought to be Nazi’s. The film is a real advocate for the human spirit and its easy to see that in Liesel, a bubbly, warm and kind lead whose tale is both enviable and heartbreaking.