In 1940s Germany, an 8-year-old boy named Bruno is uprooted from his comfortable home in Berlin when his father, a high-ranking SS officer, is assigned to oversee a concentration camp in the countryside. Oblivious to the horrors of the Holocaust, Bruno feels lonely and bored in his new environment, where his mother is uneasy, and his older sister becomes increasingly indoctrinated with Nazi propaganda. With his curiosity unsatisfied by the evasive answers from his parents and the strict orders not to explore the nearby woods, Bruno yearns for adventure and companionship.

One day, while exploring the forbidden territory, Bruno comes across a barbed wire fence where he meets Shmuel, a Jewish boy of his own age but clad in the striped pajamas worn by camp prisoners. The two boys strike up an innocent friendship, with Bruno trying to make sense of Shmuel's situation, confused by the stark contrast between his own life and that of his new acquaintance. They meet secretly and share conversations, as Bruno remains blissfully unaware of the gravity of Shmuel's circumstances and the brutal reality of the world around them. Through their clandestine meetings, Bruno gets a glimpse into the lives beyond the fence but is far from grasping the full scope of the tragedy unfolding just a stone's throw away from his family's doorstep.