The Book Thief

A closer look at the story

In Germany under the shadow of the Second World War, young Liesel Meminger is placed with a family and becomes their foster daughter. Thanks to the love of her new family and to Max, a Jewish refugee secretly hidden in their home, Liesel learns to read and forms a deep, unbreakable bond with books. As the world around her darkens with the horrors of war, Liesel finds comfort in stealing books and sharing what she reads with others. For Liesel and Max, the only way to escape the evil around them is the imaginary world that books and words open up for them. But for Max, living in his hiding place, every moment is full of danger. Directed by Brian Percival and adapted from Markus Zusak's novel, the 131-minute 2013 film stars Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse and Ben Schnetzer in a moving drama.