The Zone of Interest Parents Guide

The Zone of Interest is a historical drama film directed by Jonathan Glazer, loosely based on Martin Amis’ 2014 novel. Premiering at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, it won the Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Prize. The film follows Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife, portrayed by Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller. It received critical acclaim, named Best Film by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and represented the UK at the 96th Academy Awards. Additionally, it earned three Golden Globes nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Movie Name	The Zone of Interest
Rating	PG-13
Genre	History, Drama, War
Original Language	German
Director	Jonathan Glazer
Producers	James Wilson, Ewa Puszczynska, Jim Wilson
Writer	Jonathan Glazer
Release Date (Theaters)	February 2, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)	$633.0K
Runtime	1h 46m
Distributor	A24
Production Co	A24, Access Entertainment, Film4, JW Films, Extreme Emotions

Table of Contents

The Zone of Interest Plot Summary

In 1943, The Zone of Interest vividly portrays the surreal life of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss, a man whose existence is divided between the idyllic facade of his home and the unspeakable horrors unfolding within the concentration camp next door. Höss, played by Christian Friedel, lives with his wife Hedwig and their five children in a picturesque house that stands in stark contrast to the atrocities just beyond the garden wall.

The film begins with a surreal scene of domesticity as Höss takes his children out for innocent activities like swimming and fishing, while Hedwig tends to the garden. The household is managed by servants, and the family enjoys the luxury of prisoners’ belongings. However, the chilling sounds of gunshots, shouting, and the relentless operations of the camp’s machinery serve as an ever-present backdrop, a haunting reminder of the sinister reality.

Höss, seemingly detached from the atrocities, approves the construction of a new crematorium, which quickly becomes operational, intensifying the macabre nature of his surroundings. His moral ambiguity surfaces when he discovers human remains in the river. In a disturbing display of callousness, he swiftly removes his children from harm’s way and reprimands the camp personnel for their perceived carelessness.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Höss receives news of his promotion to deputy inspector of all concentration camps, forcing him to relocate to Oranienburg near Berlin. He withholds this information from Hedwig, whose deep attachment to their home compels her to plead for permission to stay. Despite her pleas being granted, Höss moves out, leaving Hedwig to navigate the unsettling atmosphere with the help of her mother, who, horrified by the camp, leaves abruptly one night.

In a surprising twist, the film introduces a Polish girl from the neighborhood who covertly aids the prisoners by sneaking out every night to leave food at their work sites. Her acts of defiance add a layer of humanity amid the dehumanizing surroundings.

Months later, Höss, now in Berlin, is tasked with heading an operation to transport hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz for extermination. This sinister mission allows him to return to Auschwitz and reunite with his family. However, his emotional distance becomes palpable as he vacantly attends a party celebrating the operation and confesses to Hedwig over the phone about his contemplations on the most efficient way to gas the room.

As Höss leaves his Berlin office, a disturbing physical manifestation of his internal turmoil is depicted as he stops to retch repeatedly but is unable to vomit. The film concludes with a chilling juxtaposition of the present day, showing janitors cleaning the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum before it opens, and Höss descending down a dark stairway in Berlin, disappearing from view.

The Zone of Interest masterfully delves into the moral complexities of human behavior within the most inhumane of circumstances, providing a haunting exploration of one man’s descent into darkness amid the backdrop of one of history’s darkest chapters.”