While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
Acting
Geoffrey Rush's accordion-playing warmth breaks you.
Cinematography
Snow-soaked streets like painted grief.
Writing
Death's sarcastic narration from the novel survives.
Director
Brian Percival
Geoffrey Rush
Hans Hubermann
Sophie Nélisse
Liesel Meminger
Emily Watson
Rosa Hubermann
Nico Liersch
Rudy Steiner
Ben Schnetzer
Max Vandenburg
Heike Makatsch
Liesel's mother
Barbara Auer
Ilsa Hermann
Roger Allam
Narrator / Death (voice)
Rainer Bock
Mayor Hermann
Gotthard Lange
Grave Digger
Rainer Reiners
Priest
Kirsten Block
Mrs. Heinrich
Ludger Bökelmann
Football Urchin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Markus Zusak fought to keep Death as narrator; studios initially wanted it removed for being 'too weird.'
The film softens the novel's bleakest elements, particularly Rosa's harshness and the town's complicity.
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