Jacks speaks of role as Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Tag : pyjamas
A powerful film that introduces children to the horrors of theholocaust features a Kent schoolboy in a starring role.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which is nearing the end of itsnationwide cinema run, is the tale of a Nazi officer’s sonwho makes friends with a Jewish child called Shmuel imprisoned inthe infamous concentration camp of Auschwitz.

Jack Scanlon, 10, from Deal, near Dover, stars as the latter in hisfilm debut and was thrilled by the experience.

He said: “It was overwhelming and one of my worst fears wasthat I was going to forget my lines, but thankfully I have a reallygood memory, I think all actors need that.

“My friends at school are all really proud and they ask melots of questions about what it’s like to be in a film.Somebody I didn’t know even shook my hand in the street theother day.

“I knew the film was going to be shown in the cinema but Ididn’t know it was going to be as big as it has been.”

Jack was put forward for the role by the Bigfoot Theatre Company ofwhich he is a member.

He said: “I didn’t think I would get the part at first,but I was really pleased when my mum told me they had chosenme.”

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was filmed over six weeks inBudapest, Hungary, and Jack’s family joined him there.

Mum Fiona said: “We’re all really proud of him and weall had a great time in Budapest too.

“As long as he’s up-to-date with his studies and hisschool is OK with him taking time off for filming every now andthen, we will always support him.”

Director Mark Herman said a lot of time was put into finding theright youngster to play Shmuel: “Jack can be moving withoutbeing sentimental, and he has a natural dignity about him. But Ihad to see who had the right chemistry with our Bruno (theNazi’s son) before choosing an actor to play Shmuel.

“Having narrowed it down to about three boys, we trieddifferent pairings with Asa (Butterfield). Jack and Asa played verywell against one another.”