The Zone of Interest (2023)

Director: Jonathan Glazer

Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus

Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp.

At first glance the Höss family looks like an ordinary family. They have a nice, cozy home with a beautiful garden, a few kids, and a dog. They have family conversations and they crack jokes. Even when they distribute clothes (belonging to Jews) among them, it seems like a natural thing to do given the time period and realizing the film is set during war.

We soon realize there is something far more disturbing than meets the eye. We hear gun shots and screams close by and see smoke coming from nearby chimneys. We notice a watch tower next to the house, and then realize their quint little home is right next to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp. Yet, the Höss family talk about trivial things, and Mrs Höss boasts about how beautiful her garden is.

‘The Zone of Interest’ somehow reminded me of ‘The Boy in the striped Pajamas’. The young boy with his naïve nature believed the prisoners to be farmers. Here, the Höss family appear to be oblivious to their surroundings, but by choice. They know only too well of the horrors next to them, but choose to carry on their privileged existence. (I think the film’s poster illustrates this so well. The blackness indicates – to them – there is nothing on the other side of the wall.)

It was disturbing how the Nazis were discussing building a new crematorium and referring to people as “the load”. They were planning mass execution of up to 500 people at a time as if they were doing business deals, with no emotion or remorse.

‘The Zone of Interest’ is a thought-provoking film, and an interesting character study. There are no twists here and no complex story. It is a simple, easy to follow film depicting the true horrors of war: human morality.

‘The Zone of Interest’ received 212 award nominations thus far, winning 57 including Oscars for Best International Feature Film, and Best Sound.

In German.

Would I watch it again? I don’t think so.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Director: Mark Herman

Starring: Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend

Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ (sometimes spelt Pyjamas) is a disturbing war movie told from the perspective of an 8-year old boy, Bruno (Asa Butterfield). When his father is promoted, they move to the countryside where they live near a concentration camp. Bruno believes the camp to be a farm, and the slave, Pavel, working for them to be a farmer. (Before the war, Pavel was studying to be a doctor.)

Bored and longing for friends, Bruno befriends an 8-year old Jewish boy, Shmuel, in the camp. He visits regularly – one boy a prisoner and the other one free, with a fence separating them. The film so well illustrates the innocent and naïve nature of children. Not realizing Shmuel is actually a prisoner, Bruno envies him for having friends to play with. Bruno doesn’t understand the horrors of war.

German children are brainwashed with derogative teachings about Jews, but for Bruno there is no divide between them. ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ is sad and disturbing in so many different ways. This is a very well scripted film with fantastic performances. Asa Butterfield in particular was excellent as Bruno. Prepare yourself for a shocking finale!

‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ earned $44.1 million on a budget of $12.5 million. The film won several awards including Best Actress and Best Film.

Would I watch it again? Yes.