Brace yourself; you will need tissues for this movie!

It is through an eight-year-old boy named Bruno that the movie "Boy in the striped pajamas" unfolds. Bruno's father, Ralf, is a Nazi soldier, a highly ranked one at that. Bruno's grandfather is proud of his son's position in the German military, convinced that his son is "making history." Bruno's grandmother is a German citizen who opposes Hitler's views, much to the chagrin of her own son. And Bruno's mother is a society wife, who at the beginning of the film is concerned only with her own family and their secular German life. At the beginning, you see these four points of view and how sheltered Bruno has been -- politics isn't discussed in front of the children, so Bruno and his older sister Gretel have a cheerfully ignorant childhood. When Bruno’s dad is promoted he brings his family to the country and Bruno discovers a “farm” in the distance and wonders why the farmers wear their pajamas all day. As Bruno explores he finds a boy named Shmuel who is also 8 years old sitting on the “farm” side behind an electric barbed wire fence. Bruno and Shmuel become good friends, despite their different backgrounds and situations. The movie eventually leads up to one critical moment where Bruno makes a mistake he immediately regrets and seeks to right the wrong. Without hesitation the boys make a pact…one made in innocence and friendship. The boys who play the two eight year olds are brilliant both with expressive eyes and believable acting.

I read some reviews citing that the boy Bruno is too naïve, but I think Bruno represents not just a boy but also something bigger. Bruno seems to be a representation of Germany, perhaps even humanity, itself, and the failure to deal with the evil right before one's very eyes. So many Germans claimed the innocence that we see in Bruno, saying they had no knowledge of the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem that Hitler and his SS were carrying out across the European continent. Even today, despite all the existing evidence, there are still those that deny the Holocaust happened, not wanting to acknowledge the great evil of which humanity, perhaps even their neighbors and family members, is capable. More than anything else, this film shows the great price humanity pays for such utter naivete.

This is a Holocaust movie with sufficient realism to remind the viewer that this horror did in fact happen. I would not recommend it for younger viewers for there are no attempts to 'sanitize' this film. This is no doubt probably one of the saddest movies you’re likely ever to see, not so much for the wrenching intimate tragedy it portrays but for the historical reality it epitomizes. Toward the end I realized what was going to happen, I saw it coming practically from the beginning and when it did happen my jaw still dropped and I cried and by the time the credits rolled I was too stunned to move, still doubting what I had seen. I probably won’t watch this movie again due to the fact my heart just couldn’t take it. Watch it, it will leave a lasting impact on you.

A Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness

"Murder by family" by Kent Whittaker is a quick read, partly because you cannot put it down. I found this book fascinating. I had watched this story on "48 Hours" and on "Oprah" and was interested in the forgiveness this father had for the son that murdered the rest of the family. Mr. Whittaker talks in detail of how God allowed different circumstances and events to happen as they did and how He used them to show Mr. Whittaker that He is in charge and although we may not understand, He is all about His own glory. Mr. Whittaker also is very candid about his own anger and confusion and clearly states that some of this anger was based on not knowing all that the police knew. I must say that while I find his forgiveness remarkable, I am not convinced of his son's repentance but, then again, I don't have to be. I felt bad for the father, but do think the son got what he deserved especially since the murder was his third attempt to kill his family. It is the ultimate betrayal any child can do to their parents and the fact that Kent can not only forgive his son, but also write about the journey is incredible.

The only downside to this book is that I wanted to know more about Bart, Kent’s son, and the whys and how this son who came from a good Christian family could end up being the mastermind behind the murders of his mother, brother and the attempted murder of his father. If you are looking to understand the mind of a killer, you only get one chapter in the book to illumine that question. Instead this book is a peek into the heart of a grieving husband and father who determined that he would live out his faith in the face of the worst circumstances imaginable. It's a glimpse of the prodigal son’s father, of King David mourning Absalom. It will leave you humbled and in awe. What makes this book so mesmerizing is the wrenching agony of the father as he comes to grips with the knowledge of what his son has done. And then to read how, as a devout Christian, Kent painfully tries to forgive his son and heal the rift between them. Anyone who is interested in the how-to of forgiveness and mercy will be engrossed by this story.

His life changed history. His courage changed lives.

Before the movie I had heard of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician and how he and the Mayor of San Francisco George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White on November 27,1978 and the whole “Twinkie defense” theory. So I was very interested in seeing "Milk" and learning a little bit about the life and times of this famous activist. Milk is a stunning achievement and I love the fact that it manages to make its point without ever being preachy or trite, while remaining as true to the facts as any film bio could ever hope to be. The movie skillfully tells us the story of Milk's rise as a leader in the Castro Gay Community of San Francisco. Gus Van Sant, who directs the movie, shows Milk as a resilient man, an idealist with hope for the future no matter how many times he gets knocked down (and believe me he does get knocked down more than you can imagine). The movie makes him a martyr, but so was Martin Luther King, Gandhi and so many others who defied contemporary morals and ethics.

Sean Penn gives the performance of a lifetime as Harvey Milk and he certainly does deserve that Oscar he won.When I first heard that Sean Penn was playing Harvey Milk, it was hard for me to imagine, but he pulled it off brilliantly. Josh Brolin as Dan White and James Franco as Scott Smith do outstanding acting as well. Josh Brolin was superb as the lonely outcast council member who murders Mr. Milk and Mayor Moscone. James Franco, as Harvey Milk's partner, did a wonderful job showing compassion, limit setting and support for Harvey Milk's endeavors. Even after their relationship ended, he was Milk's unconditional friend.

If there is a villain in the film it is Anita Bryant who had an agenda of prejudice and hate that motivated Milk and his allies. This film gives everything a sense of urgency and intensity, which adds to its power. In the end Milk dies (and we knew that) but what he started and accomplished lives on so the movie does end on a hopeful note. In comparison to life now as opposed to the 70's portrayed in the film, there appears to have been a great amount of progress when it comes to the acceptance of all those who are different. It's a scary thought to know that the denunciation by some, who would like the world to think they lead perfect lives, can bring themselves to sneer or attack another human being because of religion, race, sexual orientation, disability or even one's physical appearance. By the end of the movie you realize that Harvey Milk was just not an activist for the gay community but for all those who have struggled to be heard and accepted. Harvey Milk's life's work can be summed up in two of his famous quotes. “Without hope, life's not worth living.” and “All men and women are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.”

Intriguing Mystery

Farraday Road by Ace Collins


I absolutely love mysteries and especially those I can't solve, which I firmly believe is a sign of a good mystery. This book is a good mystery book, no, make that a "great" mystery. It is about a small-town lawyer, determined to find out why his wife was murdered, after both are chased by killers on a deserted road.

Twists and turns filled the pages and kept me reading the book until the wee hours. I finally had to put it down because I was falling asleep reading it! It has a surprise ending. (No cheating! Read it from the beginning). I passed it to my husband who enjoyed reading it also. I had to force him to put it down to eat.

Review by Kathy Stutzman