The crisp morning air of 1943 carries the scent of pine and freshly turned earth, a stark contrast to the faint, acrid odor clinging to the air. In a sun-drenched garden, Hedwig Höss proudly surveys her flourishing flowers, the embodiment of domestic bliss. Her children, including young Hans and Inge-Brigit, play freely, their laughter echoing against the high, concrete wall that marks the boundary of their property. Inside the impeccably clean house, Rudolf Höss, Commandant of Auschwitz, pores over blueprints, his brow furrowed in concentration as he discusses logistical matters with Schwarzer, ensuring the smooth operation of his camp. The idyllic facade begins to crack, however, as Hedwig’s mother, Imogen Kogge arrives for a visit, her perceptive eyes lingering a moment too long on the smoke plumes rising in the distance, and the disquieting ash that occasionally dusts the pristine garden, hinting at the unspeakable horrors concealed just beyond the Zone of Interest.
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 shadow of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, portrayed by Christian Friedel, the camp commandant, meticulously cultivates a vision of domestic paradise alongside his wife, Hedwig Höss, embodied by Sandra Hüller, and their children, including young Claus Höss. Their idyllic home, complete with a flourishing garden and a pristine swimming pool, borders the concentration camp, creating a chilling juxtaposition of normalcy and unspeakable horror. Hedwig, fiercely protective of her meticulously curated life, revels in her role as the queen of their domain, oblivious or indifferent to the atrocities unfolding just beyond the garden fence. As whispers of Rudolf’s potential reassignment circulate, threatening their carefully constructed reality, Hedwig becomes increasingly desperate to maintain her position and the facade of their perfect family life. Meanwhile, the children play games, seemingly shielded from the camp’s true nature, yet the ever-present smoke and distant screams subtly permeate their existence. The family’s unwavering commitment to maintaining their blissful ignorance ultimately underscores the disturbing banality of evil, leaving a haunting and unsettling portrait of complicity and denial. As the war progresses, and the sounds of the camp intensify, cracks begin to appear in their carefully constructed facade, culminating in a chilling climax where the weight of their choices becomes inescapably apparent.
The Zone of Interest Movie Details
In the chilling historical drama, The Zone of Interest, director Jonathan Glazer unveils a disturbing portrait of domesticity juxtaposed with unimaginable horror. Set in Auschwitz during World War II, the film meticulously follows Rudolf Höss, played by Christian Friedel, the camp commandant, and his wife, Hedwig Höss, portrayed by Sandra Hüller, as they strive to create an idyllic family life in their spacious home with a lush garden, located disturbingly adjacent to the concentration camp. The film unsettlingly contrasts the family’s pursuit of normalcy—children playing, garden parties with friends like Elfriede, and domestic routines—with the ever-present sounds and sights of the camp next door. As Rudolf ascends the Nazi hierarchy, dealing with logistical challenges presented by officers such as Schwarzer, and Hedwig fiercely defends her meticulously crafted paradise against any threat of relocation, the film explores the themes of denial, complicity, and the banality of evil. The children, including Claus Höss, remain largely oblivious to the atrocities occurring just beyond their garden fence, highlighting the calculated indifference that allowed such horrors to persist. The Zone of Interest offers a haunting and profoundly unsettling perspective on the Holocaust, forcing viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality of how ordinary people can become complicit in extraordinary evil.
The Zone of Interest Movie Poster Images
No images available.
Movie Trailers
Filming Zone – Official Featurette Clip
Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk – Official Featurette Clip
The Zone of Interest Movie FAQs
What is “The Zone of Interest” about?
It focuses on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to create an idyllic life for their family in a house with a garden right next to the concentration camp.
What genres does this movie 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 movie?
Christian Friedel plays Rudolf Höss, and Sandra Hüller 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 film has a runtime of 105 minutes.
What languages are spoken in the film?
The languages spoken in the movie are German, Polish, and Yiddish.
What is the budget for “The Zone of Interest”?
The budget for the film was 15 million dollars.
Which production companies were involved in making the film?
A24, Film4 Productions, Access Entertainment, JW Films, and Extreme Emotions were involved in the production.
Where was the movie produced?
The movie was produced in Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.