“The Zone of Interest” is a 2023 historical drama directed and written by Jonathan Glazer, co-produced across the UK, US, and Poland. Loosely adapted from Martin Amis’ 2014 novel, the film delves into the life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, residing in the “Zone of Interest” adjacent to the concentration camp. Christian Friedel portrays Rudolf Höss, while Sandra Hüller takes on the role of Hedwig Höss.
The film’s inception dates back to 2014 with the release of Amis’ novel, drawing inspiration from actual events. Glazer chose to explore the narrative through the lens of the Höss family rather than direct historical figures, aiming to humanize the perpetrators of the Holocaust and strip away their mythic evil. Officially announced in 2019, A24 was confirmed as the film’s distributor. Principal photography occurred predominantly in Oświęcim near KL Auschwitz during the summer of 2021, with additional shots captured in Jelenia Góra in January 2022.
CHARACTERS
- Christian Friedel portrays Rudolf Höss.
- Sandra Hüller takes on the role of Hedwig Höss.
- Johann Karthaus plays Klaus Höss.
- Luis Noah Witte appears as Hans Höss.
- Nele Ahrensmeier portrays Inge-Brigit Höss.
- Lilli Falk [de] is cast as Heidetraut Höss.
- Anastazja Drobniak, Cecylia Pekala, and Kalman Wilson portray Annegret Höss.
- Medusa Knopf [de] plays Elfryda.
- Maximilian Beck [de] appears as Schwarzer.
- Andrey Isaev is cast as Bronek.
- Stephanie Petrowitz takes on the role of Sophie.
- Martyna Poznanski appears as Marta.
- Zuzanna Kobiela portrays Aniela.
- Marie Rosa Tietjen [de] is cast as Hedwig’s friend.
- Imogen Kogge appears as Hedwig’s mother.
- Ralph Herforth [de] plays Oswald Pohl.
- Daniel Holzberg [de] is cast as Gerhard Maurer [de].
- Freya Kreutzkam [de] takes on the role of Eleonore Pohl.
- Sascha Maaz [de] appears as Arthur Liebehenschel.
- Julia Polaczek portrays Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk.
- Wolfgang Lampl is cast as Hans Burger.
STORYLINE
In 1943, Rudolf Höss, the commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp, resides in a serene home adjacent to the camp with his wife Hedwig and their five children. Amidst a picturesque setting, Höss engages in recreational activities with his children, while Hedwig tends to the garden. Local workers handle household chores, and the family benefits from the belongings of murdered Jews. However, beyond the tranquility of their garden, the grim reality of the camp is evident through the sounds of gunshots, shouts, and the operation of trains and furnaces.
Höss oversees the construction of a new crematorium by Topf and Sons, while also addressing instances of human remains found in the river, urging caution among SS personnel. Amidst the peaceful setting of bedtime stories, a Polish girl clandestinely aids prisoners by delivering food to their work sites. With the arrival of Hedwig’s mother, Höss receives news of a promotion to deputy inspector of concentration camps, necessitating a move to Oranienburg near Berlin. Reluctant to leave his family behind, Höss delays sharing the news with Hedwig, who implores him to secure permission for them to remain in their home. However, as Höss departs for Berlin, familial tensions escalate, compounded by the unsettling sight of a burning crematorium witnessed by Hedwig’s mother.
In Berlin, Höss is entrusted with a daunting task by Oswald Pohl, involving the transportation of hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews to the camps. Despite the weight of his responsibilities, Höss grapples with moral turmoil, reflected in his chilling contemplations during a party organized by the SS. As he navigates the corridors of his office, Höss is consumed by inner turmoil, a stark juxtaposition to the present-day scene of janitors at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
