The Zone of Interest

Movie Name: The Zone of Interest
Year of Release: 2023
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah White, Nele Ahrensmeier, Lilli Falk, Anastazja Drobniak, Cecylia Pekala, Kalman Wilson, Medusa Knopf, Max Beck
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 10
Watch it on Amazon

Synopsis and Review

Writer/director Jonathan Glazer may not be the most prolific director currently working, but with each feature he releases, he definitely makes tremendously powerful statements. Since his feature directorial debut with "Sexy Beast", "The Zone of Interest" is only his four feature. His career has included the tremendously underrated "Birth" and the fantastic "Under the Skin". "The Zone of Interest" is loosely based on Martin Amis' book of the same name and follows the story of Rudolf Höss in 1943, when alongside his family he is stationed in Auschwitz, and is running the concentration camp as World War II continues. The life of the family is somewhat idyllic, they spend time in the garden, while Höss' children go out to swim and fish, and Hedwig, his wife, is tending to the baby with the assistance of a few employees. Beyond their garden and their walls, gunshots, shouting, trains in motion, furnaces and all matters of noises are constantly heard. Some issues start occurring, such as human remains appearing in the river while Höss and his children are in the water, and while Hedwig's mother does come for a visit, she quickly leaves as she witnesses what is occurring right next door. Höss in the interim gets word that he is being promoted to deputy inspector of concentration camps, and must move to Oranienburg, which distresses Hedwig, as she wants to stay in the area. They compromise on a strategy, with him going, but her staying behind with the family, but when in Berlin, Höss is tasked with heading an operation which will result in the transport of 700,000 Hungarian Jews to work at the camps or to be killed, which allows him to move back to Auschwitz. 

This is truly one of those films that elevates this particular art form to a masterful level. Not solely because of the gravely subject matter, but also because of the way it perfectly makes meaningful statements without calling out importance to itself (unlike Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" for instance). It's a film that encapsulates messages that are representative of the the context in which the narrative takes place, but that also supersedes that context and builds bridges to contemporary realizations and experiences that are happening as we speak. It illustrates how human beings are, in their quest for a sense or normalcy and privilege, and how they are able to acquiesce to the most revolting things that happen in the world, sometimes right next door. It is so tremendously well done, with a precision that may be at times almost too exacting, but the director also realizes every narrative is populated with human beings, and that's what he illustrates here. How the bordering oblivion of life at the hands of cruelty and inhumanness, can coexist with individuals still living their lives, as if that systematic destruction is indeed part of ever day life. This is a film that stays with you, due to the meticulous thread Jonathan Glazer creates, from the acting through the production team, all of which is impeccable. Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller are both fantastic, as is the production team which features the stunning cinematography from Lukasz Zal, score from Mica Levi, production design from Chris Oddy, and costume design from Malgorzata Karpiuk. An indelible experience, a fantastic film worth watching.