Cinema has the power to transport us to different eras and confront us with the cruelty and beauty of humanity. A clear example of this ability is the film “Zone of Interest”, directed by Jonathan Glazer, which takes us on an emotionally devastating journey through the true story of Auschwitz during the Second World War.
The film delves into the life of the Höss family, led by Rudolf Höss, the infamous commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. As the world around them crumbles under the weight of war and genocide, the family lives in a bubble of normality and apparent happiness, unaware of the horrors happening just yards from their front door. And the most shocking thing is that it is actually a true story.
The real facts behind “Zone of Interest” are both fascinating and heartbreaking, revealing dark details about the life of the Höss family during the time when Rudolf Höss was the commandant of Auschwitz. The patriarch was a central figure in the Nazi extermination system and his actions had an indelible impact on world history.
The rise of Rudolf Höss to Auschwitz
Rudolf Höss was appointed commandant of Auschwitz in May 1940, when the camp was still in its infancy, as illustrated in Area of Interest. His appointment coincided with the expansion of the concentration camp, which was used as a site for the mass extermination of Jews, gypsies, political prisoners and other groups persecuted by the Nazis.
Höss was responsible for transforming Auschwitz into one of the largest extermination centers of the Holocaust, overseeing the construction of gas chambers and crematoria to speed up the process of mass extermination. His ruthless leadership and dedication to carrying out Nazi orders made him a feared and hated figure among the camp’s prisoners.
While Rudolf Höss ruled Auschwitz, his wife Hedwig and their five children lived in a luxurious home within the concentration camp complex. Despite being just meters from the gas chambers and crematoriums, the Höss family maintained a seemingly normal life, unaware of the horror happening around them, living up to the name Area of Interest.
Hedwig Höss was known for discipline and rigor in managing the household, while her children lived a seemingly happy childhood, playing in the gardens and on the lake shores that were close to her residence. The dissonance between the serenity of the Höss family’s life and the brutality of the concentration camp that surrounds them is one of the most disturbing aspects of the story.
Collusion and negligence
What makes the story of the Höss family and Zone of Interest even more disturbing is how they appear to have accepted and even supported Rudolf Höss’ actions in Auschwitz. While he personally oversaw the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of people, his wife and her children lived in relative safety and comfort, seemingly ignoring or refusing to face the reality of what was happening around them.
The Höss family is a heartbreaking example of the collusion and negligence that allowed the Holocaust to occur. While thousands of lives were lost every day, they continued their daily lives as if nothing was wrong, prioritizing their own happiness over the suffering of others.
Zone of Interest shines a light on the darkest aspects of human nature, exploring how seemingly ordinary people can become complicit in evil when they refuse to face the uncomfortable truth that’s right in front of them. Depicting the life of the Höss family in Auschwitz, the film forces us to confront our ability to ignore the suffering of others in the name of our own well-being and happiness.
Zone of Interest is much more than just a film; it is a visceral experience that confronts us with the horrors of the Holocaust in a way that is both disturbing and moving. Transporting us to the apparent idyll of the Höss family in Auschwitz, the film forces us to confront the complexity of human nature and the ability of human beings to ignore the suffering of others in the name of their own happiness.
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Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
