The Zone of Interest is an intensely disturbing film that reflects on the horrifying outcomes that stem from cognitive dissonance. This film is not meant to be a reminder of the atrocities that occurred in the past, but to be an appalling depiction of our own tendencies through the lens of history. In an interview with Sean O’Hagan from The Observer, Director Jonathan Glazer describes the process of making the film, emphasizing the difficulty of acknowledging “the couple as human beings” in order to fulfill the film’s purpose of creating a relatability aspect between the viewers and the characters on screen.
Glazer utilizes the element of sound in an unconventional way to create a very unsettling effect throughout the film. He does this by including sound that is not related to what is being presented on the screen. Although the setting for which the camera action takes place is mostly enclosed within the space of the property, Glazer creates a transparent and realistic soundscape by including noise from what is happening outside of the walls. Below is a frame from a sequence of shots taken in the garden of the Hösses’ house.
The sound of prisoners screaming, officers shouting, guns firing can be heard throughout this shot and the sequence it is in, showing that despite the interior of the property being displayed in a positive light, horrific actions are taking place right outside the walls. This extreme contrast between visual and sound shows the disconnect (and utter lack of concern) that the members of the Hösses have with what is happening outside of the house, yet I think Glazer uses this idea to create a parallel between the Hösses and the ordinary people of today’s society.
Though it is not as tangible as the wall that separates the concentration camp from the house, this concept of a barrier exists within our daily lives; mediums such as our phone screens expose us to the suffering of the world yet allows us to remain unaffected in the comfort of our own environments. Another instance in the film (as mentioned in the article) where this is better really exemplified is when Hedwig loses her temper after finding out that her husband was getting transferred to oversee at a different factory. Despite being in a family with authority and influence over others, her lack of consideration for anything outside personal affairs is analogous to behavioral trends seen among the normal people in society. It is well understood that politicians, corporations, and other people of influence often make decisions for self-benefit at the detriment of others, but Glazer reminds us that we are all susceptible to this sort of behavior, even if it is in the form of shopping from unethical companies or keeping quiet on important issues. The central message of this film tells us to take acknowledgement of our own wrongdoings and encourages us not to ignore the suffering of others: to be willing to sacrifice happiness and comfort in the name of humanity.
