Los Angeles: Britain’s “The Zone of Interest” secured the Oscar for Best International Feature Film on Sunday, delving into the haunting narrative of a German officer’s family residing adjacent to the Auschwitz extermination camp during World War Two.
Centering on the figure of commandant Rudolf Hoss and his family, the film unfolds against the backdrop of the Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland, where over 1.1 million individuals fell victim to Nazi atrocities.
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Director Jonathan Glazer, known for his works “Sexy Beast” and “Under the Skin”, aimed to unveil the potential for violence inherent in all individuals. Shot entirely at Auschwitz, Glazer emphasized the importance of acknowledging humanity’s capacity for brutality. He remarked, “We think we could never behave this way and we don’t behave this way, but I think we should be less certain in that.”
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Adapted from the late Martin Amis’s novel, the film employs sound rather than explicit on-screen violence to depict the horror of the death camp juxtaposed with the seemingly mundane lives of the protagonists.
“The Zone of Interest”, which also clinched the Grand Prix at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, garnered nominations for Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars.
Competing alongside were nominees including Japan’s “Perfect Days”, Spain’s “Society of the Snow”, Germany’s “The Teacher’s Lounge”, and Italy’s “Io Capitano”.
