Movie Review: “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”

This movie is based on a John Boynes children’s novel. The story centers on the odd friendship between the son of a WWII German concentration camp, Bruno, and an eight year old Jewish inmate, Schmuel.

Bruno moves with his sister and parents from the hustle and bustle of wartime Berlin to an isolated house near a concentration camp. Boredom drives Bruno to the edge of the camp where he meets Schmuel. Despite the electrified wire separating them, the two strike up a close friendship. Ethnic and familial ties are tried throughout the story.

The author and director’s attempt to portray the story through the innocent eyes of a child is quite elegant. I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful development of the children’s relationship despite the stresses of war and family discord. The plot was somewhat predictable. We were spared the gore of yet another holocaust movie. The cinematography and score were above average.

Review: William Hogarth: Master of Satire

This exhibition features prints of the 17th Century Englishman, William Hogarth. Hogarth was a satirist and critic who pioneered sequential art. The main work displayed is “Rakes Progress.” This comic-strip like series of prints chronicles the moral decline and fall of Tom Rakewell. Rakewell is the fictitious heir of a rich London merchant who wastes his money on riotous living and ultimately lands in prison. These prints are on display at the Brooks Museum until 3/15/09

Review: The Baroque World of Fernando Botero

This exhibition features paintings, sketches and sculpture of Columbian Fernando Botero. The style of his works are based on his childhood exposure to Baroque architecture and art of Roman Catholic churches in Northern Columbia. Most of the featured paintings deal with the religion, politics and Latin American society in general. All animal and human subjects are malproportioned and fat. Some of the paintings were warped to the point of being gaudy. The most interesting objects were the sculptures featured in front of the entrance of the museum.

This exhibit is running at the Brooks Museum from 11/19/08- 1/11/09