Analysis of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Opening Credits of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (Opening Title Sequence ends 3:48)

At the beginning of the opening title sequence we see a quote by John Betjeman that says: "Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights before the dark hour of reason." From this quote it suggests to the viewer that the film is about children and what has happened during their childhood. Then the casting is shown on a red background; the casting is in the colour white which contrasts with red. This is because white signifies light and purity whereas as red signifies war, danger, strength, power and blood. So from this it suggests to the viewer that the film may in some way regard death. However we then realise it was an extra close-up shot of the Nazi flag this shows how significant the Nazi flag is to the film and then it implies to the viewer that the film is set in Germany during the period of the second World War. So, this then notifies the viewer that the film is about war and maybe someone's childhood during that time. We see three boys running through the street making the sound of an aeroplane and using their arms to fly like an aeroplane. We see the people around the boys and it suggests that they are in a place where a lot of the upper class people live because of their dressing. We then see quite a large house which connotes that a rich family may live there and we meet what is thought to be the lady of the house. From the way she is dressed it is portrayed to the viewer that she is quite posh and from an upper class family. Later on, we see a scene where the boys pass a truck and we see that possibly Jews are being forced into that truck.

Therefore, from the opening title sequence of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas gives the viewer an idea as to the genre of the film.