The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Asa Butterfield: Bruno

Photos 

Quotes 

• Shmuel : I wish you'd remembered the chocolate.

  Bruno : Yes, I'm sorry. I know! Perhaps you can come and have supper with us sometime.

  Shmuel : I can't, can I? Because of this.

  [points the electric fence] 

  Bruno : But that's to stop the animals getting out, isn't it?

  Shmuel : Animals? No, it's to stop people getting out.

  Bruno : Are you not allowed out? Why? What have you done?

  Shmuel : I'm a Jew.

• Bruno : We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that?

• Bruno : He used to be a doctor once, but gave it all up to peel potatoes.

• [about Gretel's reading from their tutor of propaganda about "the Jew"] 

  Bruno : I don't understand. One man caused all this trouble?

• Father : What are you doing today?

  Bruno : The same as yesterday.

  Father : And what was that?

  Bruno : The same as the day before.

• Bruno : [Pavel is nursing Bruno]  Where's my mum?

  Pavel - Jewish servant : She's out.

  Bruno : When will she back?

  Pavel - Jewish servant : Soon, I expect, but don't worry.

  Bruno : Will I have to go to hospital?

  Pavel - Jewish servant : No, it's only a small cut.

  [Bruno moans in pain] 

  Pavel - Jewish servant : Oh, come on, it's not that bad. There, all better.

  Bruno : What's your name?

  Pavel - Jewish servant : Pavel. Now you better sit still for a couple of minutes before you start walking on that again.

  Bruno : It could be worse than it looks.

  Pavel - Jewish servant : It isn't.

  Bruno : How would you know? You're not a doctor!

  Pavel - Jewish servant : Yes, I am.

  Pavel - Jewish servant : No you're not. You peel potatoes.

  Pavel - Jewish servant : I practiced as a doctor before I came here.

  Bruno : You couldn't be much good if you had to practice.

  Pavel - Jewish servant : Now what are you going to be when you grow up? I know! An explorer!

  Bruno : How did you know that?

• Bruno : I'm Bruno.

  Shmuel : Shmuel.

  Bruno : Sorry?

  Shmuel : I'm Shmuel.

  Bruno : That's your name? I've never heard of anyone called that before.

  Shmuel : I've never heard of anyone called Bruno.

  Bruno : Shmuel? No one's called Shmuel.

• Bruno : Shmuel. Can we go to the café or something?

  Shmuel : Café?

  Bruno : [pause]  Maybe I should go home.

  Shmuel : What about Papa?

  Bruno : [after looking around]  Yeah.

  Shmuel : We'll check our hut first.

• Bruno : Why do you wear pajamas all day?

  Shmuel : The soldiers. They took all our clothes away.

  Bruno : My dad's a soldier, but not the sort that takes people's clothes away.

• Lieutenant Kotler : How dare you talk to people in the house? How dare you! Are you eating? Have you been stealing food?

  [shouts] 

  Lieutenant Kotler : Answer me!

  Shmuel : No, sir. He gave it to me. He's my friend.

  Lieutenant Kotler : What?

  [to Bruno] 

  Lieutenant Kotler : Little man, do you know this Jew?

  [shouts] 

  Lieutenant Kotler : Do you know this Jew?

  Bruno : No, I just walked in, and he was helping himself. I've never seen him before in my life.

  Lieutenant Kotler : You, finish cleaning the glasses. When I come back, we'll have a little chat about what happens to rats who steal.

• Bruno : Do you not like playing?

  [Shmuel nods] 

  Bruno : Just not ball games?

  Shmuel : Not here.

• Father : [Elsa has just discovered the true nature of the camp]  Elsa, I was sworn to secrecy.

  Mother : From your own wife?

  Father : I took an oath upon my life, do you understand? Elsa, you believe in this too. You want this country to be strong...

  Mother : No, Ralph! No, not THAT! How could you?

  Father : Because I am a solider! Soliders fight wars!

  Mother : That isn't WAR!

  Father : That is a part of it, it's a vital part of it! The Fatherland we all desire, all of us, you included, cannot be achieved without work such as this!

  [Elsa begins to break down] 

  Father : Elsa, Elsa!

  Mother : Get away from me! GET AWAY FROM ME!

  [Begins to cry] 

  Bruno : [Enters Ralph's office]  Grandpa's here!

  Father : We'll be through in a moment.

  [to Elsa] 

  Father : Who told you about this?

• [first lines] 

  Mother : Hello, sweetheart.

  Bruno : Mum, what's going on?

  Mother : We're celebrating.

  Bruno : Celebrating?

  Mother : Mm, your father's been given a promotion.

  Gretel : That means a better job.

  Bruno : I know what promotion is.

  Mother : So we're having a little party to celebrate.

  Bruno : He's still going to be a soldier though, isn't he?

  Mother : Yes, my lamb. Just a more important one, now. I have some even more exciting news, but I think dad wanted to tell you about that himself.

• Herr Liszt : Yes Bruno?

  Bruno : I don't understand, the Jew is down to this one man?

  Herr Liszt : The Jew here means the entire Jewish race. If it was just this one man I'm sure something would be done about him.

  Bruno : There is such thing as a nice Jew isn't there?

  Herr Liszt : [Sarcastically]  I think Bruno if you ever find a nice Jew, you'd be the best explorer in the world.

• Bruno : It's not fair you've got a nicer view.

  Gretel : I'm not swapping.

• Bruno : Let's go and find your dad. Come on!

• Bruno : [from trailer]  Dad's a good man.

  Gretel : Of course he is.

• Bruno : I want to go home.

  Father : You are home, Bruno. Home is where the family is.

• Bruno : It could be worse than it looks.