How a Domestic Scene Creates Dread in ‘The Zone of Interest’ | Anatomy of a Scene
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- Опубліковано 22 лют 2024
- This sequence from “The Zone of Interest,” which is nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, observes a weekday at the home of Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the concentration camp Auschwitz. That home is positioned directly next door to the camp. In the kitchen, Rudolf’s wife, Hedwig, sits and gossips with friends. In another room, Rudolf meets with the engineers of a crematory. But the scene primarily follows Aniela, a young Polish girl who works in the home, preparing a glass of schnapps to celebrate the commandant’s birthday, and delivering boots to him during his meeting.
Discussing the scene, the film’s director, Jonathan Glazer, said that he chose to follow Aniela, rather than the main characters, “because it’s really one of the only times in the film where we can see and connect and spend time with, essentially, a victim of these atrocities.”
He explained that he chose to use multiple cameras to shoot the scene, and the film overall, because “I really didn’t want to have sort of the artificial construction of a conventional film to tell this story. Rather, to view them anthropologically, as if we were a fly on the wall.”
Read the New York Times review: nyti.ms/4bKRyxJ
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One of my favorite films of the decade so far. Very impressive how showing absolutely nothing of the horrors happening in the camp is somehow even more terrifying.
this is not new, 'less' has always been 'more' in filmmaking. you should watch some of antonioni's, bergman's or even angelopoulos's work if you dig this type of narrative.
My grandmother (were from eastern Ukraine) was a servant girl in a German household during the occupation. She lived until 86 and spoke very little of her experience as it was dangerous to do so during the Soviet times. I only know that they were kind to her and that their two sons did not come back from the eastern front. I’m only glad she didn’t live to see the invasion and occupation, this time from the other direction…
'nothing of the horrors happening in the camp is somehow even more terrifying' - true, very true. But I'm a bit conflicted - the Death Camps are a fading memory or were never a memory. Witness Israeli Cabinet ministers talking about Palestinians as 'human animals', doing ethnic cleansing, hinting as elimination in some fashion (Israel has been discussing moving Palestinians to Africa). Hitler had earlier plans to not annihilate Jews but to deport them.
@@mjw12345 well a bully comes from victim of a bully, so they look for lesser/minor to be bullied, and then they can feel better about themselves...
This movie is not gory? That’s the only reason I have refrained from watching it, I can’t do the blood and gore
This film is so nuanced and incredible. I'd love to watch it again, with Glazer's commentary throughout, explaining all the filming details
We can wait for a Criterion release
It is a spectacular film, but I don't think I could watch it again, I struggled watching it the first time.
The lack of empathy is what shocked me the most. Amazing film
It is shocking that it is happening again today, and seeing it in real time and not onlyndo people have no empathy, they cheer it on.
@@lujainalimanable I have German neighbour we are living in France and she is nasty ignorant person. She tries controlling me , spaying on me (she fixed camera pointed at my direction) she is older generation. She has staff , cleaning lady and helper who is also German and both of them trying to ruin my live!
the true horror is that within us all resides the heart of darkness.
I nursed one of the crematorium workers at the end of his life in Sydney 1992. He was rescued by the British and they told him they could send him anywhere in their colonies so he said send me as far away from Europe as possible and they sent him to Australia. He wrote his memories down for his family and anyone else to read if interested , it was horrific. The thing I remember most was when he opened the gas chamber doors and saw bleeding bodies piled in a pyramid shape as they clambered on top of each other scratching and tearing each other to get the last piece of air at the top of the room , children clinging to their mothers legs under skirts. I don’t think I could share the other things I read.
Hello. I'm so sorry for the horrors you have heard and read, and I want to tell you that I care and I want to be with you as a human in witnessing the horror. It's so awful. I don't feel like I'm finding the right words at all, and I feel really awkward writing this comment, but I didn't want to leave your comment unanswered. Sending so much love to you.
Omg that sounds absolutely horrific! May God have mercy on our souls for the horrors we have collectively forced upon the innocent. The human race has so much to atone for. Oh God, we beg your forgiveness.
its the greatest honour to be with a person at the end of life. God bless you
We’ve all read it various places before. Never becomes pleasant, but it’s hard to remember people once found it shocking as well. Sad world we live in.
When I was eight years old, I stumbled on one of my mother's book in our home library. Given that they work in the UNHCR ( United Nations Refugee Agency), it's a compilation of stories about refugees circa 1950's to early 1990's. I remember it to be a huge books with several pictures ofhouses burned by war, starving children, or families with the look of lost on their faces. What horrified me the most are the stories. I recalled reading the stories of Vietnamese people riding on crowded fishing boats riding through the sea for days and clueless on when they will reach land. During these trips, there was not enough food for the passengers on these boats. In there desperation, they sought to cannibalism.
I remember that one dying passengers on the boat ( a middle age man) volunteered himself to be eaten. The witness ( the one telling the story) will then tell in excruciating detail on how the man was feasted upon by the time he took his last breath. When I came upon the part of a four year old child dying and the men plan to eat her as well....I just closed the book shut. No more. Said my eight year old self. No more. I don't know where that book is now but the content on what is written there had shook me more than any horror story. War can really show you the most bleakest side of humanity. The story was just words in a book, it must be unimaginable to be a part of it. God bless the souls who had experience it first hand. May they be at peace.
The simultaneous cameras were an amazing choice. It does have a "Big Brother"effect. And, I love how the director embraced natural light. It contrasts nicely with the darkness of the film.
This is an exceptionally well made film and the Oscar was well deserved.
The moment the screen got red and the sound got louder was an incredible experience and nearly knocked me out
That was so eerie, i was like what is going on🤣
@@albertosaldana7456 yes
The women who worked in the house were not Jewish (as Mr. Glazer explains in the video), it is clear that the men working outside were.
As a researcher focusing on works of art stolen from Jews, I found Hedwig Höss's mother's dialogue interesting, when she said that she cleaned the house of a Jewish family and that she had a passion for her boss's curtains. She revealed that she was unable to buy the curtains because someone bid better than hers at the auction.
Dutch museologist Peter van Mensch has long been denouncing the fact that German families are selling Jewish objects on the black market, to antique dealers and private collectors. The Nazis who were in possession of this war spoils are dying and their families are trying to get rid of these collections.
Thank you for sharing this, its an important thing to know and share.
The chilling sounds heard as a background to a young boy playing with his toys in his bedroom. Unbelievable film.
I had to buy a pair of quality headphones to take in the ambience of the film.
This is one of a kind of a remembrance without showing what's happening behind the walls, the final scene of cleaning the rooms really hits the nail in the coffin of delivering the message.
It truly felt like they were discussing a sale of home furniture in that meeting
Watch this film in the cinema. Is a real masterpiece. I had this feeling😮 in my stomach, like I wanted to vomit. Also I couldn't stop thinking about Gaza, Israelis living in Tel Aviv 70 km from Gaza City, chilling while Gaza burns.
One of the best films I have ever seen. Glazer is the real deal. So happy to see him getting recognised.
Glazer is very famous in the filmmaking world.
?
As a cinephile I am especially appreciative of him taking the time to break down the scene.
I didn’t realize how much of the film actually was real and based on actual people and situations.
I was also fascinated by these characters and the scenes. I watched especially the Polish woman; I assumed she was a prisoner of the camp but you can tell she knows everything she does has to be perfect. The Gardner washing the blood off the boots was horrifying. The calm, general talk about the efficiency of the, I assumed they were furnaces, was chilling. The more I think about this movie, the more impressed I am.
It is one of the best and at the same time most touching films I have seen so far. a work of art far away from any commercialism
This is the best film I've seen in years. The Director is a man of principle.
Creep.
Amazing, terrifying film. I'm Jewish and so glad I saw this.
Brilliant. I didn't notice it the first time, honestly. I think it's one of the films where you notice more of such things during the secong viewing.
Such a harrowing, upsetting movie.
One of the most effective and horrifying films ever made.
Just watched the film yesterday as it won the Oscar for best international film, no doubt of the why! Amazing film and this commentary just makes me want to watch it again
the sounds gave me chills
It’s a remarkable film, and one that you should see in a cinema.
Incredible film. I haven't stopped thinking about it since i've watched it.
I was glued to the screen at the movie theater when I saw this film. And the more that I learn and know about the filmmaking decisions behind it, the more I want to view it again. It definitely lived up to my own high expectations.
Thanks. Special bravery Jonathan Glazer. I'm really conflicted about this film - having seen a good many movies about the Death Camps, I find this approach exceedingly daring. I've read in Germany that it doesn't quite impact as it should because it's shown without captions/subtitles. Conflicted - portraying one of the most immense crimes in human history as a family drama! Resonates with me - but something is missing and appreciation requires knowledge about the Death Camps. I've watched it twice now, will maybe watch a third time.
A brilliant, eerie, haunting and quiet film. Reminds me of Van Sant's Last Days.
I wish Martin had lived to see the film. His book is unforgettable.
What’s the book?
The Book is "The Zone Of Interest" that the film has adapted, written by Martin Amis, who passed away last year
This movie deserves all the awards and praise!
What a magnificent movie! It grows within you. One needs to listen to reviews as yours to enrich the experience. I sooo like that you aknowledge the presence and the bravura of the young servant girl. Unbelievably meaningful her scenes. Notice when she carries the tablet with the schnapps glass and goes through the kitchen the woman sitting in the way doesn't even move a little further to facilitate the girl passing by. Disgusting.
The only movie that I rated so high but I dont wanna rewatch it.
The mundane routine at the Hoss house gives the mixed feeling of fragrance and stink. Its unsettling and disturbing. Loved this movie. Like to know how he reached to the idea ?
he stated in his oscar speech that he wants us to reflect on the world today and how zionists now continue to carry out the same german methods of occupation and crimes against humanity onto the people of gaza
Masterpiece…
Very well done and has a uniqueness in presentation
I haven't seen this yet, but I feel it will be one of these experiences I'll need to steel myself before watching.
Yes. I saw it in the theater last Saturday - and about four hours ahead of time, I was thinking: Brace yourself. No worries, there are no visually horrifying scenes, nothing like that. But if you have not yet seen it, it might be something you think about after watching. At least - that's what I'm experiencing right now.
This was an excellent movie. Dark but so well done.
We’re so used to seeing the horrors and atrocities in WW2 movies about the holocaust that it’s just as scary to not actually see it happen but to know it’s happening by our other senses.
Excellent movie. Very well done. Yet disturbing.
Such a well crafted film on so many levels. Excellent filmmaking.
I haven’t seen the film yet but I can tell from this scene that it’s absolutely brilliant
Two German language movies are competing. The Teachers Lounge and The Zone Of Interest. This would win for sure
Yes but only one of them is a German production
Horrifying and wonderful film watched last night, such a tense watch.
Highly upsetting movie, a masterpiece of film making and sound design. 🇵🇸
Very amazing film. Very done well. It seemed so real. Very interesting.
They just won the Oscar tonight
❤
I can’t wait to see it!
i think it was an exzellent choice to make everything look new and not vintage.
I highly recommend this film and Under the skin.
Great movie. Kind of disturbing but very well done!
Extraordinary film. Shocking.
Yet in the comments, no one mentioned the heartbreaking scene with hoss with his children in the river, while hoss was fishing he picked something that hit him, it was a bone, he directly called for his children and mounted them on the boat and left. Since ashes were thrown in the river, when they arrived home they washed quickly, and the cam took the shot of the tub with all that came out of the children, and then when the maid was cleaning the tub after the shower, she was staring at it, hesitated. Thats the biggest scene in the movie. And during hoss's trial the accusation was that he was responsible of the mass killing of around 3.5 million people, many waited for his objection and denial but his response was no 2.5, and many of them died bcz of starvation. How cruel a human being can be?!!!
It’s in you, it’s in me.
65% of human beings are capable of the most inhumane acts of cruelty.
Watch a film called experimenter or read a book called ‘obedience to authority. The film is about Stanley Milgram & the experiments he conducted on the subject. The book is written by Stanley Milgram about those experiments. Terrifying!
If you see the river scene closely as well you can see the river slowly becoming clouded and losing it’s clear color. This is because the ashes from the higher rivers are now flowing down. It’s truly horrific
The ability to be this cruel is in 70% of human beings (Stanley Milgram, the Milgram experiment & his book ‘Obedience to Authority.’
Terrifying!
No film light at all? That’s extraordinary!
My maternal great grandparents lived in a town that is within walking distance of the camp. They moved to America before the war. I knew they were from Poland, but I had no idea they were SO close to Auschwitz. I often wonder what their life would have been like if they'd stayed.
My paternal great grandparents were Jews from Ukraine. They also left before the war. I found out recently that they actually lived in Chernobyl. All of that was news to me because their papers just say that they're from Russia, and my grandfather died before I was born, so I was never able to ask him about his family.
Needless to say, everybody left at the right time!
I've always been very interested in anything that has to do with Auschwitz.
the true horror is that within us all resides the heart of darkness.
Brilliant filmmaking!
Captivating movie
This movie is a masterpiece. He is in the same league as Son of Saul.
Not even close.
This movie is a master piece.
First time the United Kingdom is nominated for Best International Feature Film in a long time since Solomon And Gaenor. Hope United Kingdom can do this more. If this movie wins every Academy Award than with United Kingdom would be the country with the most nominations out of Hollywood and Italy
Just this clip was horrifying as my mind filled in what is going on in the camps at the very moment this domestic banality is happening.
Some scenes in Dancer in the Dark, where also shoot this way with simultaneous shooting in different places.
Nice initiative Mr.
Wow.. 😢😢😢 Thk you!
Masterful
Warehouses that held property stolen from prisoners in the camps were called “Kanada,” i.e. the land of plenty.
😮😮😮😮😮😮
That is an astounding scene -- so chilling that they do not even notice her as she goes about her duties. I did like how Helga looks in from the other room to oversee her while she is pouring the drink. Another noticeable thing is that Huller, the star, sits with her back to the camera and not, as might be expected, facing the camera. Notice how the servant girl swivels her hips ever so slightly to avoid bumping into the woman's chair. And "Canada" as a source of amusement to the three women. Horrifying.
God the lighting in so unsettling
I need to see this film asap
"The banality of evil."
The part with the grandmother unable to sleep because of the sounds of the
crematorium is probably the most disturbing scene in this entire movie, imo. Truly evil.
Looks like a well made film.
'The pieces' - the way he described them. Like air conditioning units.
Geez....
Going to watch it in cinema tomorrow. Don't know if I should be excited or scared ...
My father was a Polish slave worker. He was thrown out of college when the Germans invaded and forced to work on a local farm for a German family. Eventually he was conscripted into the German army, against his will, of course. He deserted in Italy and found his way to the British forces. I wish I had asked him more about his experiences but I think he didn’t want to burden a young person with all that he had seen. One thing he did say was that when the German soldiers were told they were being sent to Russia, they started crying. They wouldn’t send Poles, because they thought they were unreliable.
Sometimes, I so despise my affiliation with humanity. This film has done its work on me well. Makes me wonder why we deserve to be, when animals deserve to walk this earth more than we .
The juxtaposition of what is happening on both sides of the wall is so viscerally disturbing that it made my blood boil. There's a ho-hum neighborly ladies chat going on while human beings are being tortured and murdered over the fence. Businessmen are basically giving a Power Point presentation to potential clients about the newest model of crematory, while ashes are reigning down outside. Glazer gives us glaring glimpses where there is nothing to question, while we can only hear and use our mind's eye to "see" what is happening on the other side. This director's explanation is fascinating and the film is seriously one of the most vital movies that I've seen.
The only thing I could think of while watching this masterpiece was in Palestine, the parallels are horrifying and shows that we, as a humanity, will always repeat history, no matter how barbaric it may be
Yes it is an even greater horror to see what is occurring right now- in Palestine, at the hands of those who are victim in this film- it does not need to keep repeating.
It's like watching the idyllic life of Israeli illegal settlers, with the daily unseen horrors in Gaza and the West Bank.
After the Oscars last night, I think the director agrees with me.
An absolutely brilliant film! The banality of evil.
Hi. I wanted to see this film and was preparing to go to the cinema when I found out that it was subtitled. I did not go, such a pity. I am dyslexic and the subtitles do not stay on the screen long enough for me to finish reading also they are usually white and become invisible when they are overlaid on a white background which often happens I want to look at the photography and not spend my time reading. If the film is remade in English please let me know. best wishes. GarryUK
Amazing, but you have to watch till the end, otherwize it seems absurd scene, loose of time and saving cameraman
How ironic that Hanna Arendt's theory on the banalisation of evil would be so thoroughly applied by the descendants of those who suffered so much because of it.
Hannah Arendt
The motorbike that’s heard in the background was a real life thing that took place. The real Ruldolf Hoss hired somebody to ride the bike around to mask the noises of the concentration camp.
Couldn't anyone tell this man that the umlaut in Höss changes the sound into a u-sound as in turn. It is not pronounced Hoss but Hus
I am in awe of everything about this film, from the new POV, and a different kind of holocaust film to all 10 cameras used simultaneously, oh my! to the black-and-white starkness, to the benign nature of humanity's atrocities through riveting characters and story.
A monumental horror movie of the domestic life of a concentration camp commander. On display is the absences of humanity which is now displayed in Gaza.
Best Picture here we go!!!
❤
If anyone here knows enough German, what was the word that the characters used for "pieces instead of human beings"?
And what is the context of that word in its truest form in German usage?
Like chess pieces? Or rather like art or items of furniture?
More like “items”.
Best fiction film of 2023.
Periodismo Sicario !!!
This is driving me nuts. His last name Höss is pronounced like the word Hearse as in the funeral vehicle.
If you watch it on MAX, the captions are TERRIBLE. They are white and the background is white in much of the movie meaning if you don't speak German, you miss about 1/4 of the movie.
This great film is very analogous to today, except the horror taking place beyond everybody's garden wall now is the mass murder of defenseless unborn children.
This girl domestic girl is called in German Dienst Mädchen
Very familiar Situation for Isreal nowadays. They have learned from the masters
Make more movies
I love horror films. Yet nothing prepared for the terror and dread of this film. I stopped watching 20% of the way through. I couldn’t handle it. I’ll return to the movie. I need a break.
Like know your reason to use the negative effect in the girl with apple scene.
It's kind of obvious, but so clever. The thermal imaging gives the scenes a kind of furtive "surveillance" look that captures how careful she has to be to evade detection as she carries out her good deeds. It adds to our sense of the danger she subjected herself to. And stylistically; it works in immediate opposition to the mundane wilful ignorance of the family and their direct complicity in the crime that we predominantly see in the daylight.
I heard an opinion saying the negative effect, which was used only when portraying the girl's kind act, was an "inversion" of the sun-drenched normal scenes in which the evil is being done. Good could only happen in the dark and was an inversion of the norm of Auschwitz which was evil occurring in broad daylight.
@@derekdalton5658 I don't think your "surveillance" theory is good. I think the technique is a stylistic "inversion" of Höss's world of evil vs. the girl's world of good. The girl's acts of kindness are so opposite to Höss's world of evil that these scenes with her are portrayed stylistically as an inversion of black and white vs. color and normal light vs. something "opposite" like infrared but the fact that they used infrared specifically isn't the point (nor would be anything we associate with infrared specifically like surveillance). The point is that the girl's kind act is the complete opposite of Höss's evil and the filmmaker underscored that with this stylistic element.
@matthewcragg3607 The point about good and evil is self-evident. I still think the technique captures a furtive gaze; reminds us [the spectator] that we are looking at clandestine behaviour. So it's both a stylistic gesture to good vs evil and a technique to change the resister with which we "watch" her bravery unfold. It's practically the most tense scene in the entire film. We all shed a sigh of relief when she's safely ensconced back home.
@@derekdalton5658 Regardless of the meaning of the stylistic choice, it's interesting that the creepiest most foreboding scenes are those portraying an act of kindness.