Oscar favorite 'The Zone of Interest' explores high-ranking Nazi's life during wartime

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Zone of Interest
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Writers: Martin Amis, Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Christian Friedel, Freya Kreutzkam
Genre: Drama, History, War
Rated: Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some suggestive material and smoking.

Synopsis: 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.

Review: Some of you may be familiar with Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” (an adaption of Thomas Keneally’s “Schindler’s Ark”) where we are introduced to Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party who is said to have saved the lives of 1,200 Jews by employing them in his munitions factory.

Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” tells the story of Nazi Party member Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel). As commandant of Auschwitz, Höss oversaw the “processing” of thousands of Jews. He did so from the comfort of his home that sat just outside of the camp. “The Zone of Interest” shows the day-to-day life of his family.

Acting like a Southern plantation owner, the Höss family is served by their well-behaved Jews. The key difference being that plantation owners at least saw some value in their workforce. The Nazis saw Jews as disposable. There was always another train pulling into the station.

The Höss family live unremarkable lives. They go about their business without a thought given to the smoke constantly rising from the chimneys.

Historian Hanna Arendt calls this “the banality of evil.”

Typically, a film’s protagonist features redeemable qualities. Schindler may have been a Nazi who did terrible things but, in the end, he did something courageous. The Höss family are unremarkable and exhibit only a sense of humanity for their family members. You could try and suggest that the family is mostly unaware of what happens on the other side of the wall. It simply isn’t true. Rudolf, his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller), and at least their oldest son are aware that something terrible happens behind the backyard’s wall.

“The Zone of Interest” is phenomenal. While not a horror film, it is the most terrifying film to be released in recent memory. This is the quiet side of war, and it is incredibly interesting. Easily one of the best character dramas of the year, with award-worthy performances across the board, a script that is razor sharp, and direction that keeps the depravity just out of view. It looms.

“The Zone of Interest” is nominated for five Academy Awards. All deserved.