With the world premiere of his novel turn film ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, John Boyne stops by to talk about his favourite movies…
His novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ sold over 3 million copies worldwide, was published in more than 30 languages and topped the Irish charts for over 60 weeks. And tonight, John Boyne’s much-acclaimed novel finally gets its much-anticipated cinema release. ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is the unforgettable story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy, Shmuel, on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
On the eve of the film’s world premiere (in Boyne’s home town Dublin), we spoke to bestselling author about his movie going habits.
Q: How often to you get to sit down and watch a movie?
A: A lot! I go around twice a week, I’m a huge movie fan.
Q: Tell us about the last movie you saw?
A: ‘Man on Wire’ – I saw that the other day. I liked it a lot, its edge of your seat stuff.
Q: What is your favourite Irish movie and why?
A: I think the movie that stands out for me is ‘The Commitments’. I was 19 or 20 when it was released – a young aspiring writer – so to see Roddy Doyle’s work be adapted like that, it was a big thing for me.
Q: What is your favourite movie of all time?
A: That would change every time you ask me. ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ and ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ stand out but ask me again tomorrow and god knows.
Q: What movie could you never sit through again?
A: Hancock – I left and I hate walking out. The only other movie I’ve walked out on in recent times is ‘21′ – I wanted to kill the kid in that – terrible movie.
Q: Describe your ideal movie cast…
A: I think something with Meryl Streep and Robert Downey Jr.
Q: Favourite movie snack?
A: I don’t eat in movies and I can’t bear people eating around me… The worst thing about going the cinema today is nachos. They are loud to eat and smell so bad. Plus the portions of food – when I went to see the Dark Knight people were coming in loaded down with food – I mean they aren’t going to die without it.
Q: Favourite TV programme?
A: Ever – probably ‘The West Wing’; at the moment I’m working my way through the American version of ‘The Office’. I tend to watch things on DVD, box sets like ‘Curb your enthusiasm’, ‘Fraser’ and ‘Six Feet Under’.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is in Irish cinemas September 12th.