The Zone of Interest is about the banality of evil. We follow the story of real Nazi Rudolf Höss and his family as they go about their day to day lives living next to Auschwitz which he is charged with running. The film emphasizes how normal they treat their lives despite the cries or terror, the almost constant gunfire, and the burning bodies happening just over the wall from their home. This film manages to be quite powerful in how it showcases just how much of a blind eye can be turned towards horror.
If there is any critique of the movie it isn't from how well crafted it is, nor are there any problems with the performances. Friedel and Hüller are both strong in their roles. The film will hit us with moments of horror sharply contrasted with the mundane of the story. And this is the point. The problem lies with making a movie that is about the mundane, it becomes at times, a slog to watch. There are jarring moments, that are filled with quite beautiful terror and power, but these are seeded throughout day to day routine that becomes almost tedious. Fortunately the film's runtime isn't excessive making this easier.
The film ends on a powerful note that jumps ahead in time to the present and ties the apathy of the past to the current world. It is striking in its power but also quite simply mundane as well. The Zone of Interest suffers most from not being that watchable. But when it does shine it truly does.
The Zone of Interest
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Christian Friedel
Writer/Director: Jonathan Glazer
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