An unexpected reaction
Rarely do I ever see a film and get overwhelmed. I've seen some really amazing movies without getting affected. There is, of course, the odd scene that makes me tear up a bit, but as soon as it's over, I'm back to my old heartless self. Having this in mind, and without having read the novel or a lengthy review, I watched "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas".
For those of you who have no idea what it is, it's a 2008 film about a German boy - son of a high-ranking military officer - discovering the truth behind the Holocaust through his frienship with a boy at a nearby camp. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, and the beginning didn't do anything to prove my initial assumption wrong. It's not exactly your typical World War II drama, like the Pianist, which is a great movie indeed, just different. The Pianist lets you know what to expect. It's harsh and real, and it makes you cringe. The climax at the end is consistent with the tone of the entire film. This wasn't the case with The Boy in then Striped Pyjamas.
It... creeps up on you. It's not that I didn't see the ending coming, in a way, but oh god - it had my heart beating like it belonged to Labrador on a summer day, I was biting my lip, murmuring to myself and agonizing so much over it I couldn't even cry. A non-graphic ending made me feel literally ill - and that's a compliment, damn it! I've sat through the most horrifying movies out there and my reaction wasn't even close to this. It was like watching a trainwreck happen in slow motion. Torture.
I think I should watch Madagascar 2 now. And then maybe Ice Age too, just to make sure I've washed away all the grown-upness.