“The Zone of Interest” is one of the most chilling films I have seen. It received the runner-up Grand Jury Prize at Cannes.
This film depicts the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolph Hoss (Christian Friedel), his wife and children living comfortably and contentedly next to the camp. Smoke from the ovens and physical evidence of the camps occur only in the background. A pleasant atmosphere pervades the home with flowers by the gate. In another notable performance this year, Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”) portrays the commandant’s wife.
Sandra Hüller, right, in “The Zone of Interest”
Masterfully directed by Jonathan Glazer who wrote the screenplay, “Zone of Interest” has many indelible scenes as residents and visitors to the home convey their casual indifference to the horrors they perpetrate in their daily lives. In a particularly shocking scene, the wife and her friends casually discuss their new clothes, unconcerned with the source of their new items. The wife is so attached to her home that when her husband speaks of a possible transfer, she tells him she will have to be dragged away.
In a devastating scene, as an ambitious husband, the commandant brags of a promotion to his wife, casually mentioning deadly details. The disturbing scenes build to a powerful effect.
Sandra Hüller in “The Zone of Interest”
Jonathan Glazer discussed his film with the lead actors after a screening at the Telluride Film Festival. Glazer said “The Zone of Interest” went through a number of screenplay drafts. He spoke about making what we cannot see part of the film. He discussed his unique process for the film. Ten fixed cameras were set up in the different rooms of the filming areas and turned on remotely at the same time. Glazer said that this provided a free and flowing experience.
Sandra Hüller said the director was not visible on the set during filming. Christian Friedel added that this gave the actors the luxury of time to create situations for the camera. He enjoyed the experience. Hüller agreed.
The background of the film was discussed. Research was done at the State Museum at Auschwitz from 2015-2020. Filming was done in Poland. The commandant’s home at Auschwitz had been abandoned. The building was replicated and the garden was built from scratch.
“The Zone of Interest”
Hüller spoke of having preparatory conversations with Glazer that helped to avoid traps in creating her character. Friedel said he lost weight to portray the commandant and that the uniform helped him a lot in getting into character. He added that he watched film of Rudolph Hoss at the Nurenberg trials. Hoss was executed after the trials.
Glazer said he wanted “The Zone of Interest” to show similarities of the film’s characters to people today, with complicity in what can be perpetrated. At a later reception, I told Glazer that the scene of the ambitious commandant looking forward to a promotion while unbotherd about the consequences made this intention very effectively.
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