we have to add layers of fantastical nonsense to it. The subject matter is one that should be treated with the utmost sensitivity when creating 'art' or 'entertainment', and I had a sense as this film progressed that it was not getting the balance right, with moments such as

• Bruno living next to a camp and being able to see it from his window
• the lack of surveillance of the perimeter fence
• the boy in the camp ending up being employed at the big house
• the 8 year old's ability to dig a huge hole on either side of the fence

All used to advance the story but all completely beggaring belief. There are litterly countless angles that this topic can be approached from in film and stories that could be poignant or horrifying whilst being true to reality. Even something like Life Is Beautiful (which I, perhaps controversially, thought was excellent) handled the topic in a way that jarred a lot less with me, because it had a surrealist element and more deftly viewed things through the eyes of a child. Whereas this was straight laced and serious throughout, while introducing nonsense.

TBitSP was filled with needlessly heavy-handed moments and is one of my least favourite film on this topic. Perhaps my dislike is magnified by the lack of authentic accents, which made it hard for me to connect.

4/10