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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas adaptations: books & films
Every version of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas — the books & films, compared across media.
John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a 2006 Holocaust novel that became a 2008 film. Both versions follow young Bruno, who moves with his family from Berlin to Poland and strikes up a friendship with Shmuel, a boy on the other side of a fence where everyone wears striped pyjamas. The book and the film tell the same story across different media.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas films
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas books
Frequently asked
Is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas based on a book?
Yes. The 2008 film adapts The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a 2006 Holocaust novel by Irish novelist John Boyne. Both tell the story of Bruno and Shmuel's friendship across the fence.
How many versions of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas are there?
Two versions are covered here: the 2006 novel by John Boyne and the 2008 feature film, both built around the same story of Bruno befriending Shmuel in Poland.
Should I read the book or watch the film?
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas novel is the original source. The 2008 film is a Drama, War, and History adaptation of that same story. Which you start with is a matter of preference.