The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest, is now streaming on MAX. It was written and directed by Jonathan Glazer and won the Academy awards for Best International Film (United Kingdom) and Best Sound (Tarn Willers & Johnnie Burn). The movie also received nominations for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, and Directing.

Let me start by saying that this is an important film to watch. Any chance we get to learn more about the largest genocide in human history is a chance to make sure that history never repeats itself. This period drama out of the UK gives us a glimpse of what life was like for the Nazi commandants who ran the camps during the Holocaust. Specifically, we see how the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolph Hoss, lived in luxury with his family immediately next door to the camp's walls. 

After watching The Zone of Interest, I admittedly did not think that I enjoyed it. The story has no big climax and there are a couple scenes I felt were confusing and did not make sense. However, the more I thought about it, the more I grew to appreciate what this movie is saying. In most movies that I have seen that center around the Holocaust, we are getting the story told from the perspective of someone who is/was a prisoner within one of the camps. Here, we get the point of view of one of the monsters on the outside and his family (also monsters). It is very jarring when you see the family outside in their yard playing and enjoying themselves. It is jarring because the sound of gunshots and people screaming can be heard loud and clear right next door. But if you had the movie on mute, you would never be able to tell because it has zero effect on the family whatsoever. 

This is a powerful and important movie about the Holocaust that shows us that no matter who's perspective the story is being told by, the Holocaust was terrible and is the worst atrocity ever committed in human history.

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