"The Zone of Interest" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Went and saw ‘The Zone of Interest’ this evening and am just stunned by this film. I normally don't do this but I was reading some reviews by other filmgoers to get their take on it and this one by ‘On The Town with Tanya’ is something I have to share as she captures it perfectly!

“Jonathan Glazer is brilliant in telling us the story we all need to know the answer to: "What was happening right outside of the camp?" Who lived on the other side of the wall, outside the walls?? What were they doing? Didn't they hear the screams, smell the fires? Why didn't they do something? Because.....humans get ok with death IF its NOT them or their family....It takes courage to stand for something....and easy to fall for anything that is safe... He draws us in with brilliant views. Cinematography, nature and the sounds (Bravo Johnnie Burn and your team!!) the sound of children we are all familiar with, at first joyous....and then he does the unexpected, tells the story auditory....every sound mattered to bring the audience to that moment of horror, WITHOUT visually re-traumatizing us like most past stories do. Bravo to making the audience FEEL thru sound.....what it is like as a fly on the wall when humans become monsters and don't even have a clue they are. The picking thru jewelry, furs, while others suffered....showing the "vulture" in complacent people...it has happened before....#insanity, which makes us think...humans never learn and they are greedy in the worst of times thinking only of their needs and not that children - people - were being killed. They had NO thought of it, but I love the way Jonathan left it on us, the viewer, to see and hear....how this atrocity happened, because PEOPLE, in feeding THEIR needs and wants...became MONSTERS that contributed, and that is why it went on so long and so many died. This film should be a part of history as when you leave eerie sounds ring in your ears forever and hopefully IF an atrocity EVER attempts to happen we will all take a stand, not take the job, not take advantage of OUR privileged lives, and NOT allow one man to teach millions around the world...to watch as an atrocity happens in front of them. Bravo Jonathan and all the actors, crew, well done!