The Book Thief starring Geoffrey Rush gets an Oscar-ready emotional trailer

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Chances are if you make a movie set during World War II that you are either aiming or hoping for an Oscar nomination. Of all the settings for films, WWII seems to be the ideal landscape for telling a heart-wrenching tale of human perseverance, and with good reason. The Holocaust is one of the most hideous and well-known atrocities in history and has affected the families of millions across the globe. Even so, sometimes the movies are just not that great.

THE BOOK THIEF is based on a novel that has reached acclaim far and wide. As a movie, it looks like another THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. Both were based on very highly regarded books and turned into films with excellent actors. While THE BOY WITH THE STRIPED PAJAMAS felt derivative and uninspired, THE BOOK THIEF has a chance to still be good. You wouldn’t know it from the generically cut trailer or the awfully out of place voice over narration, but THE BOOK THIEF is a great story.

Based on the beloved bestselling book, THE BOOK THIEF tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany.

Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson star as the parents of an adopted child played by Sophie Nélisse. Nélisse won after a casting search amongst thousands of applicants. Finding the right child actor can be tough and with a story as deep as this, hopefully they found the right one.

From what I can see, this looks like a decent movie. Maybe a better trailer would sell the film for me. If you have read the novel, does the trailer do the story justice?

THE BOOK THIEF opens November 15, 2013.