Often, I like to go into a movie as blind as possible. I do this even more for Oscar-contending films, which are traditionally more artsy, independent, symbolic, innovative, or daring. It can be hit or miss. When it hits, it’s unforgettable. When it misses, I spend my time glancing at the time on my phone, wondering when the borefest will finally end. I am glad I didn’t approach Jonathan Glazer’s (Under the Skin, Birth) fearless The Zone of Interest.

You need to know the plot of this film. The following is the ever-so-brief description from IMDB. 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. That was all I knew about the film, but had I not been aware, I would have been completely lost for much, if not all, of it. Because what is happening on the opposite side of the garden wall is not directly stated, I could see how the entire movie could be a frustrating experience. Knowing the basic plot premise replaces that potential frustration with a certain dread. While that doesn’t sound like a fair tradeoff, Glazer’s true story is meant for us to feel that exact feeling. Many view The Holocaust as the darkest period in the history of the world. The atrocities of what happened in Nazi Germany during World War II are so unfathomable even to think could happen that we, as a collective society, have to wonder how we let it happen.

In cinema, we have essential films such as Schindler’s List, Life Is Beautiful, The Pianist, The Grey Zone, Son of Saul, The Diary of Anne Frank, and others that poignantly tell stories from The Holocaust in such deep, profound, meaningful, and sincere ways. These movies vividly portray events in ways that fill us with fury and cause us to weep. These are films designed to be both timely and timeless. Each listed film was crafted with diligence and care so that future generations will feel an impact equal to that of those who viewed the movie upon its theatrical release. The Best Picture nominated The Zone of Interest is the newest addition to this important list.

Before my viewing, I was unaware that The Zone of Interest was based on a true story. I thought the Höss family would have symbolized German families in general who lived near a concentration camp where such atrocities were being committed. To watch an otherwise typical family living prosperously while the mass killings of persons of Jewish faith were being burned alive on the other side of their concrete wall felt very uncomfortable. For almost the entirety of the film, the ever-present reverberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau crematoriums served as an intolerable background accompaniment. In addition, intermittent gunshots, screaming, and crying could be heard while the family lived comfortably.

The film stars Christian Friedel (The White Ribbon) as Rudolf Höss, Commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp, wife of Hedwig (Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall, Toni Erdmann), and father of five young children, ages newborn to eleven. Their estate is a paradise. A large home with a nice-sized yard and private path down to a nearby river is a spot that the whole family likes to recreate at, particularly Rudolf. Gardeners, maids, and cooks cater to the family’s every need. Stacks of cooking supplies are brought in via wheelbarrow by one individual. Glazer spends almost 60 seconds filming the man with the wheelbarrow transversing the massive grounds from the fence’s gate entrance to the doorsteps of the porch. We hear the creeky sounds of the wheels rolling through the yard, but it’s not nearly enough to muffle the noises we’ve become accustomed to hearing in the background. Each of those who work at the Höss house is keenly aware of what is happening on the other side of the wall, each keeping primarily to themselves, perhaps worried about their fate if they even acknowledge the apparent.

Glazer doesn’t offer us a protagonist. He presents us with two lead characters who, on the surface, may seem ordinary. Though they seem more like partners than spouses, each is a loving parent. Rudolf’s position in the Third Reich is hardly mentioned, particularly in the film’s first two acts. The children are too young to understand life outside the family’s estate. They are so oblivious to what is happening that there is no need for Rudolf or Hedwig to address it. Hedwig turns a blind eye to the thousands being murdered each day. She isn’t oblivious, but the tradeoff of dismissing what is happening is worth it to her, as she gets to raise her children in the home of her dreams.

The film ends rather abruptly. I sensed this would likely happen in the waning moments, as Glazer wants the filmgoers to interpret the ending independently. I prepared myself as much as I could. Still, as the final scenes of Glazer’s movie drifted to black, a pin drop could have been heard in my theater (maybe 20 of us?). We never witness a death, an ounce of violence, or even a sense of tension. With Rudolf, Glazer gives as a character who feels so far removed from his job when he is at home. His voice has confidence. He acts swiftly in his decision-making. He is stableminded with his family. But in his moments of solitude, there is a pause that almost brings an element of humanity to him. It’s not enough for us to think more highly of him, but he does allow us to ponder what he might be thinking, as the enormity of his job duties has to take some toll physically, mentally, and emotionally. Does he operate under the belief of plausible deniability? Does he believe that if he isn’t doing his job, there would be someone who would replace him and do the same thing? The glimpse is all Glazer gives us. And it’s all that Rudolf deserves.

Glazer’s precision to detail in this chilling cinematic achievement. It’s as if he knew he had both the right and the responsibility to make the next transcendent and influential film about the Holocaust. He achieved his goal. The Zone of Interest will leave you thinking long after your viewing.

Plot 8.5/10
Character Development 8/10
Character Chemistry 7.5/10
Acting 8.5/10
Screenplay 8.5/10
Directing  8.5/10
Cinematography 9.5/10
Sound 10/10
Hook and Reel 6.5/10
Universal Relevance 10/10
85.5%

A-

Movies You Might Like If You Liked This Movie

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• Schindler’s List
• The Grey Zone
• The Reader
• The Pianist