The Zone of Interest

In British director Jonathan Glazer’s brilliantly penetrating take on the Martin Amis novel. Rudolph Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, his wife Hedwig (Sandra Huller from Anatomy of a Fall) and their family live a perfect suburban dream in a house and garden alongside the camp. This is a historical fact – the house still stands today. This portrayal of adjoining heaven and hell makes the point, however, of only showing the false heaven. Hell is left to our imagination, remaining off-screen, although audible from behind the wall are the industrial sounds of the genocide occurring daily. This exploration of everyday evil, where the family live in denial of what is demonstrably apparent all around them, becomes riveting, unsettling cinema heightened by Mica Levi’s astonishing soundtrack. This is serious film-making, forcing us to question in the present our existence in our own bubbles thereby not engaging with the horror and violence in the current world. One not to be missed.

‘A masterpiece’ BBC,‘Hits with sledgehammer urgency’ The Times, ‘Devastating and vital, bold and brilliant’ Daily Telegraph.

A:
Probably the best film for a long time. Not much of a plot but its impact is powerful. So frightening (A)   An important corrective to ‘The Boy on the Striped Pyjamas.’ (A)   Great film! (A) Uncomfortable, thought-provoking, subtle and brilliant! (A )    Believable. Sobering. I loved the ending, the museum – (I’d like to see his other film now) And read Martin Amis’ book! (A)   Truly extraordinary; but very, very chilling. (A)   Very moving. (A)  I don’t think this could have been made in any other way – or any better. Understated but absolutely to the point! (A)  

B:
Quite challenging!! (B)   A horror film, but unfortunately true!(B)  The sound made the seats tremble. This brought the horrific proceedings home more than any images could have done!(B)   Interesting /made me think!! (B) Unsettling both in content and stylistically (B) A gnawing, underplayed horror (B)

C:  
Confusing imagery in places (C) Very disturbing. Well made and important to see but the irony of the genocide being replicated by the very race that were decimated by the Nazis was too much to bear. (C)

D:
Man’s inhumanity to man. Are we forgetting too soon? (D)      Confusing end (D)

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