A meticulously manicured garden bursts with color, a stark contrast to the unsettling quiet that hangs in the air. The laughter of children playing echoes, yet it is somehow hollow. This is the world of Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife, Hedwig. As Rudolf meticulously reviews blueprints with engineer Schwarzer, discussing efficiency and logistics with unnerving calm, Hedwig tends to her beloved roses, a paradise fashioned within the shadow of unimaginable horror. We see their children, Inge-Brigit, Claus, and Hans, splashing in the pool, blissfully unaware of the smoke billowing in the near distance, a constant reminder of the camp they call their neighbor. The Zone of Interest; where domesticity and barbarity intertwine, and the pursuit of a normal life takes on a chillingly surreal quality.
The Zone of Interest Movie Overview
Title | The Zone of Interest |
---|---|
Release Status | Released |
Release Date | 2023-12-15 |
Runtime | 1 hours and 45 minutes |
Genre | Drama, History, War |
Original Language | En |
Spoken Language | German, Polish, Yiddish |
Country | Poland, United Kingdom, United States of America |
Production Co. | A24, Film4 Productions, Access Entertainment, JW Films, Extreme Emotions |
The Zone of Interest Movie Cast
Name | Character |
---|---|
Christian Friedel | Rudolf Höss |
Sandra Hüller | Hedwig Höss |
Johann Karthaus | Claus Höss |
Luis Noah Witte | Hans Höss |
Nele Ahrensmeier | Inge-Brigit Höss |
Lilli Falk | Heideraud Höss |
Anastazja Drobniak | Annagret Höss |
Cecylia Pekala | Annagret Höss |
Kalman Wilson | Annagret Höss |
Medusa Knopf | Elfriede |
Maximilian Beck | Schwarzer |
Andrey Isaev | Bronek |
Julia Babiarz | Young Polish Housemaid |
Stephanie Petrowitz | Sophie |
Martyna Poznanski | Marta |
Zuzanna Kobiela | Aniela |
Benjamin Utzerath | Fritz Sander, Topf & Sons |
Thomas Neumann | Karl Prüfer, Topf & Sons |
Klaudiusz Kaufmann | Obersturmbannführer Bischoff |
Justyna Szklarska | Prisoner Gardener #1 |
Kacper Piwko | Prisoner Gardener #2 |
Marie Rosa Tietjen | Hedwig’s Friend #1 |
Antje Falk | Hedwig’s Friend #2 |
Jakub Sierenberg | SS Officer #1 |
Joerg Sierenberg | SS Officer #2 |
Joerg Giessler | SS Officer #3 |
Heiko Lange | SS Officer #4 |
Marek Łukasik | SS Officer #5 |
Bernhard Schirmer | SS Horseman |
Julia Polaczek | Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk |
Shenja Lacher | Gauleiter Fritz Bracht (voice) |
Imogen Kogge | Hedwig’s Mother |
Wiktoria Wisniewska | Heideraud’s School Friend |
Paulina Burzyk | Claus’ Girlfriend |
Anna Marciniszyn | Redheaded Woman |
Agnieszka Wierny | Aleksandra’s Mother |
Patryk Mika | Polish Partisan at Table |
Tomasz Piwko | Kapo Bohner |
Carsten Koch | War-Wounded Soldier #1 |
Heinz Nielow | War-Wounded Soldier #2 |
Christine Schröder | Woman in Park with Dog |
Marnius Fislage | Höss’ Adjutant |
Ralph Herforth | Oswald Pohl |
Daniel Holzberg | Gerhard Maurer |
Rainer Haustein | Richard Glücks |
Daniel Hoffman | Dr. Meindl, Steyr-Daimier-Puch |
Wolfgang Lampl | Hans Burger |
Oscar Lebeck | Glücks’ Adjutant |
Christian Willy | SS Doctor |
Freya Kreutzkam | Eleanor Pohl |
Leo Meier | IKL Announcer (voice) |
Barbara Koszałka | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Izabela Bara | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Anna Kuwik | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Mariola Karczewska | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Halina Drzymota | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Dominika Matonóg | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Ewelina Kaczor | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Małgorzata Żurek | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Barbara Jakubowska | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Elżbieta Bronka | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Zuzanna Janusik | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Sascha Maaz | Arthur Liebehenschel (uncredited) |
Ralf Zillmann | Hoffmann (uncredited) |
Christopher Manavi | Minor Role (uncredited) |
The Zone of Interest Movie Storyline
In the chilling shadow of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, the camp commandant, and his wife Hedwig strive to create an idyllic life for their family within the confines of their meticulously maintained home and garden, oblivious to the horrors unfolding just beyond their walls. The film unfolds through their daily routines: Hedwig tending to her garden with ruthless efficiency, mirroring the meticulous planning of the camp itself, while Rudolf oversees the industrial-scale extermination with chilling detachment. Their children, including Claus Höss, play games in the yard, seemingly untouched by the ever-present smoke and distant screams. As Rudolf’s career advances, hinting at a potential relocation, Hedwig fiercely resists, determined to remain in her ‘paradise’ built on unimaginable suffering. The growing tension between their personal desires and the monstrous reality they enable forms the crux of the narrative. Inge-Brigit Höss grapples with the unsettling dissonance of her family’s life, a moral awakening threatening to shatter their carefully constructed facade. The film culminates with a haunting juxtaposition of their domestic bliss against the backdrop of the camp’s atrocities, leaving the audience to confront the profound moral implications of their choices and the disturbing banality of evil.
The Zone of Interest Movie Details
“The Zone of Interest” unfolds a chilling portrait of domestic life juxtaposed against the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. Set in the idyllic surroundings of a meticulously maintained house and garden in Auschwitz, Poland, the film centers on Rudolf Höss, chillingly portrayed by Christian Friedel, the commandant of the infamous extermination camp, and his unwavering wife, Hedwig Höss, brought to life by Sandra Hüller. Their unwavering commitment to creating a perfect family life forms the disturbing core of the narrative. As Rudolf dedicates himself to the efficient operation of the camp, Hedwig cultivates a flourishing garden and raises their children, including Claus Höss and Inge-Brigit Höss, seemingly oblivious to, or perhaps deliberately ignoring, the constant sounds of gunshots, screams, and the ever-present smoke billowing from the crematoriums just beyond their fence. The film explores themes of denial, complicity, and the terrifying banality of evil, inviting viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality of how ordinary people can become desensitized to extraordinary atrocities. “The Zone of Interest” serves as a haunting reminder of the human capacity for both love and unimaginable cruelty, leaving audiences questioning the boundaries of morality and the true cost of comfort and ambition.
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The Zone of Interest Movie FAQs
What is the movie “The Zone of Interest” about?
The movie depicts the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig as they strive to create an idyllic family life in their home and garden right next to the concentration camp.
What genres does “The Zone of Interest” fall into?
The movie is classified as Drama, History, and War.
Who directed “The Zone of Interest”?
Jonathan Glazer directed the movie.
Who are the main actors in “The Zone of Interest”?
The main actors are Christian Friedel who plays Rudolf Höss, and Sandra Hüller who plays Hedwig Höss.
When was “The Zone of Interest” released?
The movie was released on December 15, 2023.
What is the runtime of “The Zone of Interest”?
The runtime of the movie is 105 minutes.
What is the budget for the film, “The Zone of Interest”?
The budget for the film was 15000000.
What languages are spoken in “The Zone of Interest”?
The languages spoken in the movie are German, Polish, and Yiddish.