User Reviews

"Run, Boy, Run" (2013 release from Germany/Poland; 113 min.; original title "Lauf, Junge, Lauf") brings the fictional story of a young Jewish boy in Poland. As the movie opens, we are told that it is "Winter 1942/43" and we see a boy wondering the harsh and snowy countryside, barely surviving. Eventually he gets taken in by a catholic woman, who decides that in order for the boy to survive, he needs to assimilate into becoming a 'regular' Polish (read: catholic) boy, sporting a Polish name (Jurek, instead of Srulik). When things eventually gets too risky, with the German occupation forces becoming ever more intrusive, she has no choice but to send the boy away, and he must look for new shelter. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: first, the movie is based on the acclaimed (and prize winning) novel of the same name by Uri Orlev in the early 2000s. Given the topic of the novel, and the acclaim it got, it's surprising in a way that it took this long for it to be adapted for the big screen. Second, this is not an easy movie to watch, as the young boy encounters his share of troubles, and then some. Just when you think it can't get any more challenging, it does! Of course it makes for dramatic cinema. Third, apart the immediate challenges of the day-to-say survival of the boy, there are some further serious undertones as to the boy's Jewish identity: if you 'study' to act like a catholic in order to survive, and you live and breathe Catholicism, does a person's Jewish identity become endangered at some point? Fourth, special kudos to the movie's photography, as the forests and countryside look absolutely beautiful, both in winter and in summer time. Last but not least, the movie features a gorgeous orchestral soundtrack, composed by Stéphane Moucha.

Bottom line: "Run, Boy, Run" is not exactly the type of movie that makes you think 'that was a jolly good time!" as you leave the theater. But it IS a movie that will stay with you long afterwards. And the young boy who plays the Srulik/Jurek character is fantastic. I saw this movie recently at the 2014 Jewish & Israeli Film Festival (Summer Series) here in Cincinnati, and the screening was very well attended. I certainly hope that this will get a proper DVD release in the US. "Run, Boy, Run" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

A 8-year-old Jewish boy Srulik flees from the Warsaw ghetto in 1940s in order to survive. He hides his Jewish identity and introduces himself as a Christian Polish boy Jurek Santiak. He goes through a lot of things. He even has an accident that makes him handicapped. After World War II ends, Srulik still acts like Jurek Santiak. When he is about to forget his Jewish roots, he meets someone who reminds him of his Jewish identity. Thanks to him, Srulik embraces his own identity again. He goes to an orphanage. Years later, he moves to Israel and meets his missing sister there. He gets married and has a family.

The movie starts too fast. I mean, the sequence of events are a bit complicated in the beginning. I'd prefer a proper timeline of events. We see Srulik's mother and father from the flashbacks when he dreams or thinks of them. The storyline is good though. It is based on true story of Yoram Israel Fridman and it is adapted from Uri Orlev's novel. You feel really bad for Srulik/Jurek most of the time. His survival skill is definitely worthy of commendation. He is such a tough boy for his age. He endures a lot of things and he overcomes them all. When he has a mental breakdown, you feel for him and his crying breaks your heart. Whenever he meets self-seeking and merciless people, you get totally mad at those people for their existence and ignorance. Whenever he meets tender-hearted and well-disposed people, you feel happy and thankful that people like that actually exist. Because those large-hearted people contributed a lot to the young boy's survival by providing him food, shelter and advice. Although Srulik/Jurek had an unlucky childhood, he was lucky because he survived those unbearable 3 years and years later, he found his sister and had his own family. So, he got to be happy in the end in spite of all the things he lost in the past. It is so nice and hopeful to see that some people actually managed to survive and to put their life together. After watching the movie, I found out that Srulik/Jurek was actually portrayed by two people, not one. Yeah, the twin actors portrayed the same character. I couldn't tell the difference based on their looks. Maybe if I had known about the twin actors, I'd have paid more attention to the character's appearance. Therefore, I can not tell which twin acted better. So, they were really compatible after all.

In conclusion, the movie begins in a sad note but it ends in a happy note. I guess, it is one of the rare World War II related movies that have a happy ending in spite of all dramatic, tragic and traumatic events.

Srulik is eight years old when in 1942 the German war machine tightens its grip on the Warsaw Ghetto. His father knows that to stay means death and so tries to get his family out. In the fog of war Srulik ends up alone and flees to the forests of Poland.

He soon finds that being the boy he was born to be will not help him survive and so takes on a mantle that will help him. To sat any more runs the risk of ruining the story. This is based on a true story and to think that someone could have come through such tortures is both saddening and encouraging.

It had me moved to tears on more than one occasion and to say the acting is superb is an understatement. This is not a war film as such, but is based in one and the terrible things that such brings. It is in Polish and German with good sub titles and is a film I shall be recommending for some time to come.

Lauf Junge lauf (2013) is a German/Polish film shown in the US with the title "Run Boy Run." It was directed by Pepe Danquart. The movie tells the harrowing story of Srulik, a Jewish boy who escapes the Warsaw ghetto and survives--by using his wits and his courage--in rural Poland.

Kamil Tkacz brilliantly plays Srulik. (Srulik changes his name to Jurek Staniak in order to pass as a Gentile.) There really was a Srulik, so this film is partially a documentary. It's not an easy film to watch, because Srulik's life is horribly difficult, and every respite is followed by yet another near-death experience.

The Poles Srulik meets range from evil (turning him over to the Germans for a reward) to neutral, to wonderful. In fact, the actions of the Polish people Surlik encounters make up the bulk of the story. However, ever present, even off-screen, is the huge evil of the Holocaust.

It's hard to believe that the occupying Germans would spend so much time and energy trying to catch one young Jewish boy, but that was the reality. Srulik was never safe. He was safer or less safe, but never truly safe.

I think this extraordinary film is worth seeking out and watching. It will work well on DVD, but we were fortunate enough to see it at the excellent Dryden Theatre, as part of the superb Rochester Jewish Film Festival.

P.S. As I write this review, Run Boy Run carries a dismal 6.5 IMDb rating. I think that's because the film has so many bad moments, and so few truly happy ones. Still, it's an excellent movie, and, in my opinion, deserves a much higher rating.

Also known as "Run Boy Run", this movie is based on the true events in the life of the real jewish boy named Yoram Fridman. Starting from the age of 8, he escaped from the Warsaw ghetto and survived during 3 years in Nazi occupied Poland. This movie is an excellent showcase of how difficult it was to survive in a hostile territory where not only the Nazi's were actively hunting jewish people, but also part of the polish population whom actively contributed to the persecution of even the most innocent jewish boy.

A combination of good acting, great cinematography and excellent props, this movie really makes you experience the period of the mid-1940's. Movies like this one also make me wonder why they are not more popular. If a movie like this would be exposed to a broad audience - over a streaming platform like e.g. Netflix, HBO or Disney - I think many people will appreciate this movie.

Concluding, I would rate this movie as 7.3/10, which is an excellent score for a movie that is produced and marketed with a relative small budget. I think it is an excellent showcase on how foreign - non-Hollywood - filmmaking is getting better and better with each new generation. And with a huge history of events that took place in East Europe during not only WW2, but also the Stalin and Soviet "occupation" after WW2 until 1989, there is a lot of material that has potential to be turned into movies as excellent as "Run Boy Run".

Anyone who lived in the early 1940s Europe would tell you their version of the horrific story. Many people fought for their survival each day, every minute. That's when they all would have thought the paradise (earth) turned into hell. This was adapted from the recent book of the same name, which was originally based on the real about an eight year old Jewish boy. You could say it is the kid version of 'The Pianist' or exactly opposite of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' as if Anne did not take shelter, she would have done something like. Very emotional film from the very first scene to the last. They have produced some of the finest World War II films in the recent time, but I haven't felt like I did for this. Totally heartbroken!

The saddest part is this film was underrated and under-noticed despite it was released just a couple of years ago. The reason might be, it was not a big production house film or internationally recognisable actors in it. Though I recognised a couple of German, Polish actors who were on the small roles. It was jointly produced by Poland, Germany and France, but should have been in the English language for the wider audience reach. Anyway, being true, including languages, which were multiple and locations would always give a perfect depiction of the event and I liked it that way. It was also good to see the Russians are not the bad guys or the roughest- toughest one we'd seen in other WWII films.

The opening was very strong. We won't know what's going on like who is this kid, where he'd come from and heading to, but surely understandable the boy is fighting for survival against the odds. Soon a small flashback of his recent past shown, but nothing deeper beyond like his home and parents were revealed. In the ending, there's a little information about that which will get you emotionally for sure. He was very young to understand all this, yet developed a survival skill. Like they say, 'all is fair in love and war', he wasn't a warrior, but what he did has to be done and it was impressive for that age. Some people helped him through, though some did not. It's all about running, running, running, like a herbivorous in the wild, not knowing when he'll become a prey to a predator.

❝Keep moving. To the east, where the sun rises.❞

The journey of three years of his life was like eternal. He has to sacrifice many things, including his innocent childhood that war had no mercy on it. In one of the scenes where he seriously met with an accident, I was unable to bear it. In a film, it's all compressed for just two hours of what took years in the real life. Only Yoran Fridman knows his real experience. He can be seen in the final scene of the film. This was like a coming-of-age, but no kids should go through it.

I know it was only a film version, but that smile, that sobbing, that fear and that strategy of survival in that age, you will lose yourself in your watch. But the entire film was only the war portion of his story. There's no earlier event, like with his parents or the post war, except at the end it skipped too far for a brief detail as any film does in that section.

It was a fine casting. The kid in the lead was in fact played by the twin brothers. I think they switched and performed well the role they have represented. It was a great screenplay and direction. Wonderful locations, especially creating those war like atmosphere. A fitting background score, it was a perfect film that brought back to us on the screen of the 75 years ago Poland when the Nazis army roamed. But I had zero idea of the film, not even knew it was a war film. It was a last minute decision to check it out and I made the right one. Like this way I'd found many hidden gems, that's what I love to do and spread the word.

Films like this usually have more unpleasant events. But involving a kid in such circumstances were even more painful to watch if you are a light hearted. Though a film like this should not be missed. This is a must watch film among WWII themes. I don't think so, I would forget everything I just saw in this film, not for anytime soon and I definitely recommend it to those who are seeking a title, but not sure which one to opt. Mainstream world should know this film and I hope my this review contributes a little for that. So, go guys go, watch it now if you haven't.

9/10

This film is available on Netflix, it does have subtitles, but that makes this story that much better. The young actors who play Srulik/Jurek did an absolutely amazing job and perfectly captured the raw emotion, pain and suffering that Yoram Friedman must have felt during the 3 years spent fleeing Germans in the Polish countryside. If not mentioned above, this film is based on a true story and is said to be 90% accurate, the end of the film features a clip from Yoram himself. I highly recommend this film as it portrays war and the suffering of Jews during WWII from a child's perspective. I was left in tears and just wanting to hug Srulik at the end, this film will definitely stay with me for a very long time.

In a powerful, gripping war era movie a film needs a sense of forboding. A grim atmosphere with appropriately bleak music. This movie views like an afterschool special from the 1980's. It's very hokey and overly sentimental. Everyone overacts in their cliche roles, and the music is woefully inappropriate. It's lighthearted, bouncy classical music that only detracts from any emotional power that might be extracted from each scene. By the end of the movie it's downright aggravating. How many movies use that darn tinkling piano? And it never works! The beginning offers false promise of an excellent experience, but then slowly it all unravels in an almost US movie type way, which is far from a compliment (as the worst trash ever put to screen is defecated in America). Plus our lead character has the most annoying fake cry you will ever hear. He's not up for what this sad script requires. Some poorly written films can still be decent with a few strong acting performances to help overcome the shortcomings. This film unravels by the numbers. Not the worst dialogue but certiainly nothing stellar. Action sequences that would make a child laugh at the absurdity of it all. Some very picturesque cinematography, which is why I'm not giving this overrated slop 1 star. If you want an exceptional film along the lines of this subject matter, I highly recomment The German Lesson. It hits all the right notes and is truly an accurate portrayal of the era. A wonderful tragedy that cannot be praised enough. But this? Mindless silly nonsense of the sort the critics will always eat up. You do know that movie critics probably have the worst possible taste in movies, right? Anyway, there are a few emotional scenes scattered through this thing, but a few minutes of compelling viewing doesn't equal success. Overall, this is a steaming pile of refuse.

I starting watching this film on Netflix and was about to turn it off when I saw the sub-titles. I really don't like to have to read them. I prefer movies I watch to be in English but I just couldn't turn it off. I was immediately drawn in and didn't mind the sub-titles at all. There wasn't not a lot of dialog anyway. This film is so beautifully done, the story, the music and the time period in history. It is a heartbreaking series of events. The young boy's acting is superb and you feel as if you are right there with him as he struggles to survive in the cruel world of the Holocaust. It is far from happy but definitely worth watching. I recommend this movie. It will stay with me for a long time.

I came across this movie by pure chance. Browsing through DVDs in the supermarket I bought it on a whim. Boy, am I glad I did. Given the subject matter it is grim in places (and if you don't shed a tear at times you have no heart!) but please do not let this put you off viewing what is in the end a truly inspiring tale of courage and fortitude overcoming the horrors of The Holocaust. I viewed it under the title 'Escape From Warsaw' and struggled to find it under this name on IMDb. And when I did find it, I was amazed to find it only had a rating of 7/10. Not bad of course, but this movie for me deserves a 10.

The little boy who plays the lead is totally convincing and acts way beyond his years. The rest of the cast is also excellent and the Polish countryside and forests are seen in all their glory throughout. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.

I never write any reviews, but current movie score is a joke! Just watched it on Amazon Prime by pure chance, didn't know anything about it and was extremely surprised how good it was.

I won't be talking whats the story about, other people already done it better than I could, I think you should just sit and watch it! I don't understand such a low score. Its one of the movies that will stay in your head for a while after watching it.

For me its 10/10 Finally some great movie, not special effects. I'm surprised it didn't get an Oscar or foreign film.

The movie is so good, I couldn't hold my tears while watching .... Mercy is the foundation of all religions !!

I think this is a film on a difficult time in history that through the innocent eyes of Jurek the brave protagonist a young Jewish male trying to survive persecution from the Nazi regime. I liked how developed the story lines and characters were and how it all tied together at the end. The story was incredulous and you just feel yourself drawn in its a story of how ordinary people go through war and ethnic "cleansing". The movie remained true to the Ww2 time but did not seem corny or dated and there were really timeless ageless topic in this film. This film convinced me how we need to protect young people from the terrors of war and antisemitism and racism. The film of the polish nature and countryside is quite beautiful in itself.

If you like movies like Schindler's List and the Pianist, you will enjoy this one. This one is different because is a boy who you follow through the war years.

I have seen many holocaust movies including Shindlre's list. This is a must see, it makes you numb and come change your view to life. It has a lot of relevance to what we are going through now. Americans are blamed for the current government. Remember, Germans were blamed many years for empowering Hitler. I'm glad jews tell their story so strong me over the years. There are many people who have suffered, but Jews tells them differently... As a doctor myself I'm shocked that doctor didn't treat him, but it happens. History repeats itself :(

Usually IMDB has fair ratings. I thought this movie deserved a better rating. Very well done!

The two brothers are great actors. You can see videos of them speaking about the movie in English. Search on YouTube. It is a true story. It's unbelievable somebody goes through this. Let's always remember how lucky we are. Every character in the movie is perfect. The only scene I didn't like is when some Germans drove out a gate and it reminded me of Hogan zeros. But it wasn't the portrayal it was just memory. There is nothing friendly about the Germans in this movie. Yet the movie does show a lot of what went on.

A Jewish orphan escapes the Warsaw ghetto only to find hardships wherever he runs. This is a beautifully shot movie lovingly presenting Poland. The story of this boy, his trials, the friends he finds, the friends he loses, is a wild tale with endearing characters every so often. It reminds me of just how absurd a world the Nazis built.

Beautifully shot film ..Great acting and real meaning in this wonderful tale of young Jewish boy, avoiding being caught by the gestapo