The Book Thief

This movie was shot by Florian Ballhaus (he also shot The Devil Wears Prada) and his work here is so perfect and polished, it’s initially distracting. It’s 1939 in Germany, a time of dark desperation, growing fear, widespread unrest. Hitler is rising to power; persecutions have begun. And yet, everyone is so well lit; everything seems so beautiful. The opening shot of the train making its way through the snow-covered winter wilderness is stark and majestic.