The Zone of Interest Spoiler Review: A Haunting Depiction of the Banality of Evil
A masterful storytelling and haunting visuals of The Zone of Interest, a film that delves into the chilling banality of evil during the Holocaust.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Writer: Jonathan Glazer
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Cinematography: Łukasz Żal
Music: Mica Levi
Main Cast:
Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss
Sandra Hüller as Hedwig Höss
Release Date: December 15, 2023 In Theaters
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Rating: PG-13
The Zone of Interest Synopsis
The Zone of Interest explores the lives of the Höss family as they live next to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The film delves into the banality of evil and the human capacity for both love and cruelty, as the family members go about their daily lives while the horrors of the Holocaust unfold around them.
The Zone of Interest Plot Summary(Spoiler Ahead)
In 1943, Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss resided in a beautiful home near the camp with his spouse, Hedwig, and their five children. The family enjoyed swimming and fishing together, while Hedwig dedicated time to her garden. Their household tasks were managed by servants, and the prisoners' possessions were given to the family. Beyond their garden wall, the sounds of gunshots, shouting, trains, and furnaces were consistently audible. Höss approved the design of a new crematorium, which soon became operational. On one occasion, he spotted human remains in the river and promptly removed his children from the water. Afterward, he sent a note to the camp personnel, reprimanding them for their negligence.
Höss learns that he is being promoted to deputy inspector of all concentration camps and must relocate to Berlin. Despite his objections, the decision stands, and he delays sharing the news with Hedwig for a few days. Hedwig, attached to their dream home, pleads with him to convince his superiors to let her and the children stay. The request is granted, and Höss moves out shortly after. Hedwig's mother comes to stay but is appalled by the camp and leaves without notice. A Polish girl living nearby sneaks out each night, leaving food at prisoners' work sites. Months later in Berlin, due to his excellent performance, Höss is assigned a mission named after him, which entails transporting hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz for extermination. This allows him to return to Auschwitz and reunite with his family. He attends a celebration for the operation but confesses to Hedwig over the phone that he spent the time considering the most efficient way to gas the room.
After leaving his Berlin office, Höss experiences a strong urge to vomit but is unable to. In the present day, a team of janitors is seen tidying up the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum before it opens to the public. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Höss continues his walk and descends a dark staircase, eventually disappearing from view.
The Zone of Interest Ending Explained
In the final stretch of The Zone of Interest, we see Rudolf Höss, a Nazi officer overseeing Auschwitz, experiencing a pivotal moment when he is permitted to return home. This marks a significant turning point in the narrative. However, the impact of this event is sharply underscored by a potent flash-forward to modern-day Auschwitz, a haunting reminder of Höss's role in overseeing mass atrocities. This powerful scene serves as a poignant and unsettling reflection on the intertwined lives of the Höss family, portrayed as seemingly normal and happy, yet deeply entangled with the horrors of the Holocaust. The film concludes with a poignant flash-forward to modern-day Auschwitz, emphasizing the lasting impact of historical atrocities and highlighting the moral complexities of the characters.
The Zone of Interest Star Cast Performance
The film features stunning performances by Sandra Hüller and Christian Friedel as Hedwig and Rudolf Höss, who portray their characters with nuance and complexity. Hüller is particularly impressive as she skillfully navigates the character's emotional journey, oscillating between curiosity, denial, defiance, and defiance as she grapples with her situation. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hüller discussed her initial reluctance to take on the role due to the weight of the subject matter. She said, "I felt sick like I had to throw up because I was so scared about this topic. I had been avoiding it for such a long time."
Hüller's performance has garnered significant praise, with many critics highlighting her ability to convey the emotional turmoil of her character. In addition to her role in The Zone of Interest, she also stars in the French courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall, where she delivers another standout performance as a woman on trial for the murder of her husband.
Friedel's portrayal of Rudolf Höss, the Auschwitz commandant, is equally impressive. He manages to capture the chilling nature of a man responsible for countless atrocities while also revealing the human side of the character, who is a loving father and husband. This duality adds another layer of complexity to the film, forcing the audience to confront the uncomfortable reality that even the most monstrous individuals can have seemingly normal lives.
The Zone of Interest Review (Our Verdict)
The movie won at the Cannes Film Festival and earned recognition as one of the top international films of 2023. It has a release history that includes premiering at Cannes in May 2023 and subsequent releases in the United States. The film, based on the novel by Martin Amis, is a loose adaptation that maintains the authenticity of the events by using the real names and testimonies of the people involved, rather than fictionalizing them. It masterfully contrasts the mundane and domestic scenes of the Höss family with the horrific atrocities occurring just beyond their backyard. By avoiding graphic violence and instead utilizing sound, suggestion, and implication, director Jonathan Glazer creates a sense of dread and horror that permeates the film.
The film also challenges the audience to confront the banality and complicity of evil, as it portrays how the Hösses rationalize, justify, and normalize their actions and roles in the genocide. The cinematography by Lukasz Zal, which captures the bleak and oppressive atmosphere of Auschwitz with stark and haunting images, is remarkable. Mica Levi's score, equally haunting and unsettling, contributes to the film's mood of anxiety and despair.
Throughout the film, the audience experiences the effects of the Holocaust without ever witnessing it. The blood-orange glow of the burnt Jewish bodies from the Auschwitz chimney cast through the window pane of Hedwig Höss' guest room, the juxtaposition of the Höss children's playful laughter with the sorrowful cries of the tortured souls in the neighboring death camp, and the dust remains of decayed Jewish skeletons dumped into the river, disrupting Rudolf Höss' canoe adventure with his children, all serve as powerful reminders of the suffering that permeates the film.
Glazer skillfully omits the harsh images of the Holocaust, yet maintains their presence just enough to keep them inescapable. This approach leaves the audience with a lingering feeling of historical tragedy that still resonates today.
The Zone of Interest is a challenging film that fearlessly delves into the darkest corners of human nature. It does not trivialize or sensationalize these aspects but instead confronts them head-on. The film poses thought-provoking questions without providing simple solutions. It is a powerful and important film that will leave a lasting impact long after the credits roll.
What Happened To Rudolf Höss and the Höss Family?
After the war, Rudolf Höss was captured by British forces, put on trial, and sentenced to death. He was hanged in 1947.
Hedwig and the children initially stayed in the family home near Auschwitz but were eventually forced to leave. Hedwig was arrested and interrogated by the British, but she was later released. She and her children moved to her father's farm in northern Germany, where they lived for several years.
Hedwig never accepted her husband's role in the Holocaust and maintained that he was innocent. She continued to support him and his actions until she died in 1989.
The children struggled to come to terms with their father's actions and the family's association with the Holocaust. Some of them changed their last name to distance themselves from their father's legacy. They went on to lead relatively private lives, with some of them speaking out about their experiences and the need for reconciliation and understanding.
FAQs
When was The Zone of Interest released?
The Zone of Interest premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and was released on 15 December 2023 in the United States. It will be released on 2 February 2024 in the United Kingdom and 9 February 2024.
Who directed The Zone of Interest?
The film was directed by Jonathan Glazer.
Is The Zone of Interest based on a true story?
The Zone of Interest is a loose adaptation of the novel by Martin Amis and is based on real events and testimonies of the people involved.
Who stars in The Zone of Interest?
The movie stars Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss and Sandra Hüller as Hedwig Höss.
What is the film's runtime?
The Zone of Interest has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Is The Zone of Interest rated?
The movie is rated PG-13 for thematic material, some suggestive content, and smoking.
What is the film's genre?
The Zone of Interest is a historical drama and war film.
Who composed the music for The Zone of Interest?
Mica Levi composed the music for the film.
What is the film's cinematography like?
The Zone of Interest has stark and haunting images, captured by cinematographer Łukasz Żal.
What is the film's message about the banality of evil?
The Zone of Interest explores the concept of the banality of evil by depicting the lives of the Höss family as they live next to the Auschwitz concentration camp, showing how even the most monstrous individuals can have seemingly normal lives.
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