There have been, and always will be, films looking (and commenting on) one of the most horrific events of the 20th Century - the extermination of the Jewish Community by the Nazi's in their Concentration Camps during World War II.
THE ZONE OF INTEREST takes a unique look at this.
Set in the idyllic house and garden of Auschwitz Concentration Camp Commandant, Rudolf Hoss (Christian Friedel), THE ZONE OF INTEREST shows the indifference of the Germans suffering as Hoss' house is situated just outside the wall of Auschwitz.
Director Jonathan Glazer (UNDER HER SKIN) chooses to "show, not tell" as the camera focuses their attention on the seemingly perfectly mundane life that Hoss and his wife, Hedwig (Sandra Huller - Oscar Nominated this year for her work on ANATOMY OF A FALL) have built for their family. We see garden parties, visits by friends and family (as well as some of the subordinates of Hoss). What sets this film apart is that Glazer keeps the constant sound of the camp on the other side of the well alive in the soundtrack. So, while the Hoss' family is having a big birthday celebration, we hear the wails of those in the camps punctuated, on occasion, by gunfire and large plumes of smoke coming out of a chimney that sticks up over the wall.
It is a chilling juxtaposition of events that shows the chilling indifference of the Germans towards the Jews.
Glazer is an interesting Director. This is only his 4th film, but in this one and in his previous film, UNDER THE SKIN, he sets the tone and the mood with "Cinema Verite"-style, long, moody shots, letting the performers sit in the events at hand and never draws a conclusion for you, the audience. He lets you draw your own conclusion, but the focus of the film pretty much tells the tale for Glazer.
This can work if the characters are interesting to watch (Scarlett Johansson's work in UNDER THE SKIN) but can be less effective as is evidenced by this film as neither Hoss nor his wife are particularly interesting people to watch. They are just a man who has a job to do and a woman who has a household to run and they do their jobs with efficiency and purpose. The horror of the whole story is the way that Hoss and Hedwig can easily ignore the events happening just on the other side of the garden wall.
Glazer never gets past this issue in the film. While, on one hand, it's an interesting, chilling and horrific view of man's inhumanity to man, it is also somewhat uninteresting as the lead characters are living a "normal" life and never get too up or too down. They just are.
Letter Grade B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
THE ZONE OF INTEREST takes a unique look at this.
Set in the idyllic house and garden of Auschwitz Concentration Camp Commandant, Rudolf Hoss (Christian Friedel), THE ZONE OF INTEREST shows the indifference of the Germans suffering as Hoss' house is situated just outside the wall of Auschwitz.
Director Jonathan Glazer (UNDER HER SKIN) chooses to "show, not tell" as the camera focuses their attention on the seemingly perfectly mundane life that Hoss and his wife, Hedwig (Sandra Huller - Oscar Nominated this year for her work on ANATOMY OF A FALL) have built for their family. We see garden parties, visits by friends and family (as well as some of the subordinates of Hoss). What sets this film apart is that Glazer keeps the constant sound of the camp on the other side of the well alive in the soundtrack. So, while the Hoss' family is having a big birthday celebration, we hear the wails of those in the camps punctuated, on occasion, by gunfire and large plumes of smoke coming out of a chimney that sticks up over the wall.
It is a chilling juxtaposition of events that shows the chilling indifference of the Germans towards the Jews.
Glazer is an interesting Director. This is only his 4th film, but in this one and in his previous film, UNDER THE SKIN, he sets the tone and the mood with "Cinema Verite"-style, long, moody shots, letting the performers sit in the events at hand and never draws a conclusion for you, the audience. He lets you draw your own conclusion, but the focus of the film pretty much tells the tale for Glazer.
This can work if the characters are interesting to watch (Scarlett Johansson's work in UNDER THE SKIN) but can be less effective as is evidenced by this film as neither Hoss nor his wife are particularly interesting people to watch. They are just a man who has a job to do and a woman who has a household to run and they do their jobs with efficiency and purpose. The horror of the whole story is the way that Hoss and Hedwig can easily ignore the events happening just on the other side of the garden wall.
Glazer never gets past this issue in the film. While, on one hand, it's an interesting, chilling and horrific view of man's inhumanity to man, it is also somewhat uninteresting as the lead characters are living a "normal" life and never get too up or too down. They just are.
Letter Grade B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)