The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 105 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, History, War
  • Stars: Sandra Hüller, Christian Friedel, Maximilian Beck, Daniel Holzberg, Sascha Maaz, Wolfgang Lampl, Freya Kreutzkam, Stephanie Petrowitz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, Max Beck, Johann Karthaus, Ralph Herforth, Medusa Knopf, Lilli Falk, Nele Ahrensmeier, Ralf Zillmann, Imogen Kogge, Julia Polaczek, Martyna Poznanski, Luis Noah Witte
  • Director: Jonathan Glazer
 Comments
  • aaikido - 23 June 2024
    Zone of Interest: A Visual Feast with No Substance
    "Zone of Interest" presents itself as an ambitious cinematic endeavor but ultimately falls short of delivering a coherent narrative or meaningful message. The film, unfortunately, comes across as a random assortment of images that fail to convey any substantive content.

    Anyone with a background in film and television can quickly discern that "Zone of Interest" lacks direction and purpose. The film seems utterly confused about what story it is trying to tell, if any at all. This lack of clarity in storytelling makes the film a frustrating experience for the audience.

    Comparing this film to a masterpiece like "Forrest Gump" is not just unfitting but outright offensive to the film industry. "Zone of Interest" has no significant commentary on the era of Hitler or the horrors of the concentration camps. It is devoid of any insightful or poignant reflections on these critical historical events, making it utterly uninformative and non-impactful.

    The only demographic that might find merit in this film are those new to film studies-young, so-called creatives who believe they are reinventing the wheel of cinema. These neophyte film critics, seem to think that radically altering traditional storytelling is the way forward, but "Zone of Interest" is a clear example of how this approach can fail miserably.

    On a positive note, the film's visuals are undeniably stunning. The cinematography is beautiful and captivating, showcasing a skillful use of imagery. However, this is the only redeeming quality of the film. The narrative, character development, and thematic substance are so lacking that the viewer is left bored and disengaged, often struggling to stay awake.

    In conclusion, "Zone of Interest" is a disappointing film that squanders its potential by focusing on aesthetics over substance. It offers no meaningful commentary on its subject matter and fails to engage its audience. The film's beautiful visuals cannot compensate for its lack of direction and purpose, making it a tedious and unenlightening watch.
  • irishrebel98 - 2 June 2024
    Hannah Arendt Was Right
    Some may dispute Hannah Arendt's theory of the banality of evil but if you want to see the very personification of such evil banality, this film is it. Rudolph Hoss, the camp commandant, is bad enough in his efforts to make Auschwitz run "smoothly", but his wife, Hedwig, is so infuriating that I had to resist screaming at her "what is wrong with you". Early in the film, when Rudolph heads off to "work" on horseback and she bids him bye bye, she practically comes this close to saying "Have a nice day murdering Jews, dear". She then remains oblivious to the evil being perpetrated during the entire course of the movie, whether it be sorting through the belongings of the dead for the "good stuff" or threatening the household servants with extermination if they don't measure up. The worst is when Rudolph is transferred temporarily but she refuses to move because their home right next to a death camp is the "best" their family has ever had. Genuinely revolting.
  • ma-cortes - 19 May 2024
    A chilling and unsettling portrait of the commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
    In 1943, Rudolf Höss, commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, lives with his wife Hedwig and their five children in an idyllic home next to the camp. Höss takes the children out to swim and fish, and Hedwig spends time tending the garden. There, Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp. He has his dream job and is very professional at it, leading a very large team of collaborators and garnering praise from peers and superiors alike.

    It begins with almost four agonizing minutes of black screen and an enigmatic background sound. This disturbing film contains strange scenes, intriguing deeds, appropriate period piece, evocative photography and nice interpretations. The Zone of Interest (2023) was winner of two Oscars in 2024: best international film and best sound, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. This film is a cold, spine-chilling and profound look at the 'banality of evil' directed by the unclassifiable Jonathan Glazer ( ¨Under the Skin¨) and the production company A24 (¨Hereditary¨, ¨ex-Machina¨, ¨The Whale¨). The actors didn't know if they were being shot in a close-up or wide shot, they were totally immersed in the scenes and enjoyed working in that realistic environment. This psychological thriller takes place almost entirely in and around the comfortable and idyllic home of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Hoss and his wife Hedwig, who strive to build a dream life for their five children in this home located next to a concentration camp.

    Director Glazer explained: "I didn't want a story with the Holocaust as a backdrop, what I wanted to film was the contrast between someone pouring a cup of coffee in their kitchen and someone being murdered on the other side of the wall, the coexistence of those two extremes¨. Director Steven Spielberg told about this film: "It's the best Holocaust movie I've seen since mine (Schindler's List)."

    It displays an atmospheric cinematography by cameraman Lukasz Zal, shot on location in Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Polonia, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Polonia (Höss's house set built on site), Cieplice Slaskie-Zdrój, Jelenia Góra, Dolnoslaskie, Polonia (Oranienburg exteriors) and Ksiaz Castle, Walbrzych, Dolnoslaskie, Polonia (interiors: nazi officers' party). The picture was slowly but professionally directed by Jonathan Glazer. Director Jonathan Glazer used up to five fixed cameras in the house and garden with no visible crew to capture many scenes. Glazer is a good known director , making a few films , such as : Under the skin (2013) with which he spent ten years to create, Birth (2004) and Sexy Beast (2000). And he directed one Oscar nominated performance: Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast (2000). Rating : 7/10 . Better than average.