‘The Zone of Interest’: Harrowing exploration of the erosion of humanity in the face of power

• Release Date: 01/03/2023
• Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Lilli Falk, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah Witte
• Director: Jonathan Glazer

“The Zone of Interest” a Harrowing Exploration of the Erosion of Humanity in the Face of Power

Just when I thought that I had seen it all when it comes to films about the Holocaust, there comes a film that annihilates everything that I had known about how the Holocaust was depicted in films and how the directors used different elements to extract emotions and dread at what the Jews were forced to endure at the hands of the Nazis. There hasn’t been a year in cinema when a film at least nodding to the Holocaust hasn’t been made. The various filmmakers from around the world have made it their solemn pledge to always keep the memories and the aftermath of the Holocaust fresh in our minds. Some of these films have been about the oppression alone, some have been about daring missions and paybacks against the perpetrators of the mass killings, and then there have been those like “The Conference” (2022) and “Conspiracy” (2001) that have dwelled on a single meeting that captured the Nazis making horrible plans and discussing means to make it successful. There have also been some other odd films like “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” that haven’t followed any of the above formale and were unique in their storytelling, subject and themes. “The Zone of Interest” is, however, nothing like anything I have seen before. It is one of the most unique and horrifying takes on the extermination of the Jews and the experiences and impact of it on the people who were close to the site of this unthinkable horror that was being meted out.

The Story:

The film follows Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), his wife Hedwig Höss (Sandra Hüller), and their children as they settle into their dream existence just by the side of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Rudolf is the master and commander of the concentration camp, and the film chronicles his existence at home and places in and around it but never inside the concentration camp. However, there are visual cues that follow him to his home, vividly documenting the kind of things that he might have been doing inside the camp. The film also takes a long and hard look at his wife, Hedwig, who is so enamoured with her new dream dwelling and the opportunities that it provides to raise their children well that she is completely oblivious to all that is happening in the camp and was absolutely not ready to move to any other place even when it meant her husband getting promoted. She also enjoyed the proceeds of the loot from the prisoners of the camp and took delight in adding them to her existence, making it better, never ever questioning the lack of humanity that came with even touching things that belonged to someone and were stripped off them as they were being stripped of their lives.

The Use of Background Imagery to Extract Horror and Impact:

The film unfolds primarily in the household of Höss, which happens to nearly share a boundary wall with the Auschwitz extermination camp. We never see any of the prisoners or what is being done to them, except for a few times when one or more prisoners are shown doing menial tasks for the family. The film expects us to know and have an idea of what went on inside the camps. Armed with that knowledge, the visuals of the film become unbearable as we see a constant barrage of smoke emanating from the chimneys of the camp, signalling the continual extermination of the people living there. 

We are given more insights into the workings of the ovens and their functionality, compounding whatever ideas we might have had before. This makes the visuals that much more alarming. Seeing the family perform normal household chores against such a bleak and horrifying background is extremely unsettling. We even see the kids playing in the backyard, family members of the Höss family enjoying the sun, reading books, and even arranging for a surprise gift for Rudolph in the same garden from where a constant emanation of smoke from the chimney signalling uncountable deaths can be seen. The same garden also gives us a peek into trains coming in and out of the camp, bringing with them more and more condemned individuals. 

All this is shown so subtly that it has a far more sinister and dramatic impact than what a graphic and in-your-face depiction of the same atrocities might have had. When it is left to our imaginations, each one of us colours the pictures with our own horrors and horrific interpretation of what might have happened, making the film’s horror unique for different viewers and thereby adding to the film’s power and poignancy.

Usage of Sound as An Element of Horror and Dread:

The background score of this film deserves special mention. Rarely have I seen directors utilize sound as effectively to extract horror and dread and further solidify the film’s impact as in this case. Throughout the film, there is always some sound related to the concentration camp audible in the background of every scene involving the family. Whether it’s the ominous sound of the chimneys or the disturbing echoes of guards abusing and gagging victims to death, the sounds from the camp continually permeate everything the family does.

As the film progresses, these sounds become increasingly pronounced, heightening the tension and unease. The director demonstrates restraint in not overusing this element, allowing moments further away from the camp to breathe without its direct influence. However, when these sounds do intrude, they serve to underscore the characters’ obliviousness to the atrocities unfolding nearby.

These moments are elevated by the performances of the actors, who portray characters more preoccupied with their own concerns or luxuries, seemingly oblivious to the unfathomable horrors occurring just a few meters away from them. The juxtaposition of everyday life with the constant reminder of the nearby atrocities creates a palpable sense of discomfort and serves to deepen the film’s impact on the audience.

Startling Performances That Border on Being So True to The Real Deal That It’s Disturbing:

Let’s all be honest with ourselves. None of us truly know how the Nazis behaved within their families in real life. This generation never had direct access to that information. Instead, we have a notion of how they might have conducted themselves around prisoners and Jews based on accounts from survivors. While these accounts may have accumulated embellishments over the years, the core reality likely remains, upon which these embellishments have layered. Hence, I cannot claim expertise on the behaviour of the Nazis, but the performances by the ensemble cast in this film made me deeply uncomfortable with their resemblance to my notions of how the Nazis might have behaved around their victims. It was the coldest, closest, and most horrified I’ve felt around performances in a film, even more so than in films like “Schindler’s List” or groundbreaking works like “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, which is based on his father’s real-life accounts as a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust.

Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller send shivers down your spine with their performances. This marks Hüller’s second outstanding performance of the year, following “Anatomy of a Fall,” and it couldn’t be more different. I was astounded by the moments she spends in her own company; these scenes are some of the most unsettling in the film. Friedel’s portrayal of Rudolf Höss, especially his imagining of the layout of the concentration camp while at a royal bowl, will remain forever etched in my memory. His rendition of Rudolf Höss will undoubtedly be regarded as one of the most sinister Nazi portrayals ever to grace the screen.

Final Words:

“The Zone of Interest” stands as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the banality of evil. Through its masterful direction, haunting background imagery, phenomenal sound design and startling performances, it succeeds in capturing the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust and how normal and mundane it felt to the Nazis. While it may be discomforting to watch, it is an essential cinematic experience that demands reflection and remembrance. With its unflinching portrayal of the atrocities committed during one of history’s darkest chapters, this film leaves an indelible mark on the viewer’s psyche, serving as a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable cruelty. This will also be a film that will serve as a testament to innovative filmmaking and will be a subject of study for film students in years to come.

Rating: 4/5 (4 out of 5 Stars)

The views expressed in this article are that of the reviewer and do not reflect EastMojo’s position.

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