THE ZONE OF INTEREST

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I avoid films about The Holocaust - I find them too upsetting and anyway what more is there to say?

But this film is directed by Jonathan Glazer whose previous film 'Under The Skin' was one of the most unsettling and disturbing films I have ever seen, so I was intrigued to see how he would follow it up.

Normally I don't read reviews in advance, so as to be able to see a film free of preconceptions. Unfortunately in this case I knew enough going into the film so that the moment early on when we discover the truth about the affluent, seemingly nice family we are observing, and what is going on next door to their villa, didn't have the shock value it might have had. 

Even so, it's a jaw dropping moment as we come to understand what  those ceaseless and sinister sounds in the background might signify. 

The family we are observing is that of the Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig.  He was executed for war crimes in 1947 whilst she lived to a ripe old age.  The 'Zone of Interest' was the name given to a restricted area located around the Auschwitz concentration camp complex.

One of the most chilling moments is when we see Hedwig (played by Sandra Hüller) sorting through clothes and suchlike, and we realise these are the possessions of the prisoners next door.

Given that there is no story arc or even plot to speak of, the film relies on our horror at the banality of evil to carry us along.  That it succeeds totally in so doing is down to the expert direction and the fine performances. 

There are some surreal sequences shot at night-time in which a local Polish girl leaves apples at the prisoners' worksites.  Glazer added these to provide a counterpoint to the overwhelming bleakness of the rest of the film.

This is one of those films that is essential viewing and stays with one, for better or for worse.

RATING: ✓✓✓ Absolutely Fabulous

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