The Book Thief (2013)
Where to Watch
- Brian Percival originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Brian Percival's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- The original script for The Book Thief was written over a decade before production finally began in 2013.
The Book Thief is a 2013 American-German war drama directed by Brian Percival, based on Markus Zusak's bestselling 2005 novel. Sophie Nelisse stars as Liesel Meminger, a young girl fostered by a German couple — Hans Hubermann, played by Geoffrey Rush, a kind-hearted accordion player, and Rosa, played by Emily Watson, a tough-talking woman with a hidden tenderness — in a small town outside Munich during World War II. When Hans hides Max, a young Jewish man played by Ben Schnetzer, in their basement, Liesel's world of stolen books, growing literacy, and childish normalcy collides with the overwhelming evil of the Nazi regime.
The film's narration by Death, voiced by Roger Allam, provided an unusual perspective on wartime horror. Geoffrey Rush's gentle, loving Hans was the film's emotional anchor. John Williams composed one of his most restrained, melancholic scores.
The Book Thief earned $77 million worldwide on a $19 million budget.
