THE ZONE OF INTEREST | The Art of Implied Horror
🎥 Topics of Terror from the Rabbit Hole of Randomness
🍿 The Zone of Interest is NIGHTMARE FUEL
🎬 Jonathan Glazer's chilling feature recently picked up 2 Academy Awards for Best International Feature and Best Sound. Connor applies the Nightmare Fuel treatment to this modern masterpiece, analysing the sights and sounds of Auschwitz and the horrors it paints in our imaginations...
👀 Video Essay by Connor Waites
📼 Video edited by Connor Waites
🎶 Audio edited by Connor Waites
👮🏼 Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.
🦇 Huge thanks to Karl Casey @White Bat Audio on the music!
#NightmareFuel #TheZoneOfInterest #WorldWar2
This double Oscar-winning feature has had the world talking. What did you think of The Zone of Interest? - Connor
I think it's a bad film. It's Nazi porn, like so much Mafia porn. These people were psychopaths without a shred of conscience: in on the crimes from 1923, willing to kill to get ahead. To represent them as 'normal' is a travesty and grants them a humanity they don't deserve. It's particularly bad they the film implies they're in some kind of major denial. That's arrant nonsense: they knew exactly what they were doing; they'd been plotting and orchestrating their crimes for years.
@@nicholasschroeder3678The film definitely does not imply Hoess was in denial. Nor does it imply his wife was in denial. They both explicitly comment on the holocaust and their actions. As you say , they might not deserve their humanity, but unfortunately they are human. That is the point of the film, to anthropomorphize a Nazi family, to show its audience that they are not so different, that we could be these committing these terrible crimes, that we could believe these actions are for the best. Not to fetishize Nazis, thats an absolutely braindead take, did you actually watch the film or are you just mad that Glazer showed support for Gaza?
It's even more disturbing to look into what Hoss' last acts were before being executed. His captors asked him to write his memoirs. Among many things, he expressed his belief that he had been brainwashed by the Nazi party. He said that he felt shame at being treated kindly and fairly by the Polish authorities and knew that he deserved death. He requested a Catholic priest so he could go back into the religion of his parents, which he had abandoned (His father had wanted him to become a priest). Finally, he asked for forgiveness. How much of his last acts were honest or just the way a psychopath manipulates his audience into trusting him or her? Well, the American psychologist who interviewed him, declared Hoss a true psychopath who could not even be fazed with his own imminent death. However, it's interesting to imagine what he would have been had the Nazis not taken over. Just a competent industrial manager; his psychopathic tendencies kept in check. That's the tragedy of the entire German people; the worse demons of their nature were brought out and put to work on creating hell on earth. I believe that the present-day has many Hoss-types in waiting.
I can think of few hoss incarnates in our lifetime
When I was in college either in Sociology or Psychology there was this concept we studied 'McDonalization' ... 'following orders', 'trying to survive' ... the locomotive mechanics (or whatever they called) that were in charge of the train that was holding 40 wagons full of people was ... Polish (99.9% likely). He wasn't killing them, he was just having a job so he could survive, since he was Polish his survivor was far from guaranteed ... in fact Polish was next on the list and lots of them died in Auschwitz (probably 1-10 thousand, ironically nothing compared to Jews). .... We watch today Gaza, Israel, Iraq, Bosnia, etc. ... shouldn't we do something to stop that?
I don't buy this for one moment. He joined in 1923. He was in on it from the ground floor: he wasn't a dupe and he wasn't in denial. The autobiography was a whitewash, like Speer's, and so is this very, very bad movie. He and his wife knew exactly what they were doing: they were anything but normal. They were opportunists without conscience, and this movie grants them a humanity and perverse kind of glamour they don't warrant. Just because someone isn't torturing and murdering 24/7 doesn't make them any less criminal or monstrous. Though the world is full of folks like this willing to kill to get ahead, idea that they're normal is false.
@@nicholasschroeder3678 I think the film develops the idea that they are abnormal in their normality really well, and uses that to ask some uncomfortably pointed questions. While Hoss does seem to have been a Nazi by conviction, the people around them - his wife and her mother, mainly - are what the Stasi called 'mitarbeiters,' which is to say, they went along with them in order to have a better life and whose stories are more complex. His wife never lets reality spoil this, while his mother in law initially eulogises the life she has and is then repelled by it. In Hoss, we see someone who has, in the manner of a true psychopath, not got any emotional reaction to the work he is doing or, in one particular case, having what seems to be unremittingly joyless sex with an inmate. But even here, his retching and stomach complaints suggest that some part of him is aware of what he's doing, even if he chooses not to see it. What we have then, is a spread of responses. Hoss is committed to either what he is doing or to his own advancement and keeps the reality of it at bay. His wife doesn't care as long as she has nice things and her mother wants nice things but is revolted. So, which are we? The one who develops moral blindness as long as he's succeeding, the one who had no moral compass at all or the one who finds her moral compass far, far too late? It's brilliant, nuanced and absolutely foul in its implications.
@@Hartley_Hare That's the whole problem with it: the false idea that they were just "mitarbeiters", not the "mitfressers" that they actually were. Höss had been orchestrating these atrocities for 20 years, he wasn't just going along, and his wife knew exactly what he was up to--she just didn't care as long as they got ahead. I don't go along with the notion that it's normal to commit crimes to advance your career, especially crimes against humanity. Maybe I'm naive. When I see the millions freely supporting Trump, I tend to think I am. But going along with evil to get a thinker smear of butter on your bread isn't normal. It's evil. All this film does is ratify the Nazi narrative. We're still being duped by the Nazis.
the scene which will never leave me, and made my jaw drop== literally drop, and I put my hands to my face right there in the theater -- was the flowers scene: the close ups of each flower, with bees buzzing (like flies on dead bodies?), with the screaming in the background , and realizing that those flowers were fertilized with the ashes of victims....And the other scene was the father reading his daughter the Hansel and Gretel story mentioning 'the ovens', intercut with the Polish girl leaving apples in the piles of mud and ash, like the breadcrubms in Hansel and Gretel...powerful
I was freaked out by the very same things. In addition I interpreted the sounds of the spring garden as the sort of healthiness of evil, how the destruction was going about industrially. Did you notice what Frau Hoss did with the note her mother left her, presumably explaining her abrupt departure, but certainly implying her inability to handle her daughter's living situation? She tossed it into her very OWN oven. It felt like, "that's what we do with things we find bothersome."
@@jeremygreen2439 oh my GOSH, brilliant point -- I didn''t even realize she had tossed it in her own oven!!! definitely no coincidence, and like you realized, the 'solution' to things they're annoyed by or can't handle. I was amazed how she didn't even QUESTION anything more about her mother leaving, like shocked, or asking the girls "Did you see her leave? when did she leave? why wouldn't she say goodbye.." Anything half normal, even if her mother HAD explained her inability to stay there. But it just showed the ultimate layer of 'not getting it' and just being actually contemptuous of her mother's probable reasons for leaving that 'paradise'....
@@jeremygreen2439 ps - also great insight into the 'healthiness of evil', literally protected and tended to to by the evil doers, yes -- like when Hoss was on the phone ranting about how no one better bother the lilac bushes
Yes that is poignant to read them German Fairy Tales too but isn't that more of the grooming process to desensitize them or make some association of hearing those horror stories with love and comfort? Germans have the Krampus as Christmas in their culture too he's what comes instead of Santa for the naughty kids. After WW1 many Germans were unemployed and impoverished probably just thought better the Jews suffer than us because Hitler gave them a superiority complex too manipulated them emotionally and psychologically. War is really a social experiment in a sense I suppose ethics of rape and pillaging and murder starvation etc. then still thinking they are "the good guys"...
This film is the perfect example of a piece of media leaving you with that pit in your stomach feel. It’s hard to carry on with life after you’ve just watched it. Amazing film
like slaughterhouses?!
you are literally carrying on with life after seeing news of current massacres and atrocities! Stop with the bullshit.
the very first thing that i noticed was the distress of the dog, then the distress of the baby. as a parent I was immediately struck by the thorough consideration of these details, and amazed that they are included. of course these two (and the grandmother) can not rest easy as they are more tuned in to auditory stimuli. it's always like that.
The smell, which the humans seemed to ignore, must have been horrific for the dog.
The background noise really defined the picture for me. How they went about their lives without any concern to the horrors behind the wall is surreal. I can't even imagine what these poor camp victims went through. A tragedy beyond words.
One of the best films I’ve ever seen, no exaggeration
This movie does a fabulous job of showing the mundanity of evil
Subtlety of evil. too 😢
@@seanramsdell4117 that to
I felt sick when Mrs Hoess, angry about her mothers leaving talked to the maid. If you’ve seen it you know what I’m talking about
As a Holocaust survivor, I'm glad another film about our tragedy won the Oscars!
You are not a holocaust survivor bro its fucking messed up to lie about that shit.
A stunning, artful, yet horrific film. While we the audience are not concentration camp commandants per se, how often do we see atrocity and suffering around us and just look the other way? We're either desensitized to it or we don't want to admit we might be benefitting from the suffering of others. Listen to Jonathan Glazer's Oscar acceptance speech. “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present, not to say look what they did then, but rather look what we do now."
Hint Gaza hint .
Same thing happening today, life as usual in tel aviv and genocide in gaza
“It feels like we are literally gazing into the past- not a cinematic representation of the past” you found words for it!! It’s hard to explain, but it feels “real” in a way that most movies, with their music and their editing etc don’t usually achieve. It feels like we are living in the home with the family and it’s SUFFOCATING. Knowing what is happening on the other side of the wall- is so overwhelming it is physically uncomfortable. It’s like for a moment, we share their guilty. And we do share their guilt 😔 we ignore the terrible things that happen in this world every single day.
As a piece of cinematic artform it's an astonishing tour-de-force. As for the emotional effect on the audience it is breathtaking; jaw-dropping. Simply stunning. Unforgettable in it's depiction of the horror of indifference.
I just realize the shot at 8:23 could resemble the smoke trail that comes out of a train. not sure if this is intended or otherwise
I will watch this film again at least once a year every year of my future. The biggest gift we can give ourselves and humanity is vigilance. Never Again.Never Forget.
It's been happening in Gaza last 70 years Jfc
It shouldn’t amaze me at the number of people who completely misunderstand this movie. By normalizing the family in the movie it forces us to confront our own dark side. It’s not necessary to be a person who would actually do unspeakable things to other human beings but to simply justify our willing to be a part of atrocities to either profit from or ignore them for our own comfort. It’s too easy to sit back and judge others and pretend we are above such things. What is happening in the world and our own country now should make us realize the “German Sin” resides in each of us if we aren’t constantly aware of the banality of true evil. Diana Fleming
Most insidiously horrific film ever. Even boring at times but atmosphere keeps seeping into you long after the movie ends. I am guessing some people walk out disappointed and only start feeling the horror later.
Excellent review on a great movie! I have watched it several times and each time I see something new. My latest discovery was a early scene taking place outside. Up in the sky to the left is six German fighter planes slowly flying in a perfect diamond formation high above the camp. You mentioned the trains smoke. It also is seen when the family is outside at a swimming party at the house. White perfect smoke and noises of a train whistle go across the entire top of the screen. I agree with you that the more you know about the subject matter, the better the film is. The ending was spectacular and your assessments are spot on. 👍
Just rented this movie on Prime and watched it, I have it for another 48hours but I don't think I will watch it again,this was haunting and some parts I cannot stop thinking about,the little girl and the apples kind of broke me 😞
This monster saw a Catholic priest before he was hanged. He had confession and holy communion. Then he sank to his knees and wept.
Need to watch this film on Sunday.
One of the most unnerving films I've ever seen.
I’m honestly intrigued by the notion of implied horror as a genre. I imagine there isn’t really a way to make a lot of films that fit that description, but I think genre-mutations like that are how prominent genres ultimately persist.
One of the best movies I've ever seen. I can't stop thinking about this movie.
Will need to watch it.
Great point about our prior knowledge of events affecting our experience of the film.
Experience and knowledge is key, in my opinion.
Amazing analysis, thank you
💯💯. Love this content
It captures the true banality of that evil...
The constant gun shots on the background are unsettling, but the character development of the Hedwig’s mother is remarkable, she arrives feeling proud of her daughter’s life and her family, even making her believe what she’s seeing is reasonable initial she comes to terms with the reality and ends up leaving distressed in the middle of night, horrified, she can’t ignore like her daughter
Your videos keep getting better and better.
💯Yep
to clarify, besides the Jews, Poles and Gypsies were killed in Auschwitz too, along with about 25 thousand people of other nationalities, Russian POW included. On top of that this was just one of two big camps in that area.
Poles and Gypsies don't own media and banks so they don't deserve their place under the sun.
I couldn't watch the entire movie in one sitting. I felt overwhelmed by the complete disregard of human life and suffering. Theoretically I knew what happened but to witness 3 people having a casual conversation about more efficient and faster ways to exterminate an entire race was true nightmare fuel. I was left wondering what sounds around me am I ignoring.
I'd love to hear your comments on the evil behind the Russian-French film, "Captain Volkonogov Escaped". It's a vision of hell on Earth, as personified by Stalin's Russia in the 1930s. Harrowing and distressing with a remarkable, tear-jerking, spiritual, and redeeming ending. The movie has so much real-world paranoid totalitarian evil that it makes George Orwell's "1984" look tame by comparison. Definitely worth watching.
A fantastic analysis! What you don’t see is the true horror. The imagination can run wild and really take you to scary places. Judging by the accents on this channel; a series that may be worth an analysis is: Sunderland Till I Die (seasons 1-2)
The movie was a masterpiece it's a shame that people don't appreciate it enough!!
There are still people who think the Holocaust didn't happen. Or that it didn't kill as many as we know it did.
You should review the torchwood series 'children of earth' cause in my opinion, it's the darkest thing in the doctor who universe.
Show the Movie some Village People from the Jungle or Middle Eastern Desert Folk Who dont know Ausschwitz and ask them what they made out of it. (Your Point is interesting)
Almost feel it could have ended with one of the unfimed endings of "Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom" with the Red Flag and text "Love You" symbolizing the Liberation by the Soviets at the end of the war.
I am not sure if I am going to this movie. Have ticket for day after tomorrow but after this review 😢😢😢😮😮
Did you go?
I've just realized... the three solid color moments in the film.... black, white, red... are the colors of the III Reich flag!
Why did he walk to dirty janitor sink room to wash his junk? He had access to officer bathrooms. .
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Snooze fest
„Germany is… LE BAD!!!“ we get it. We’ve been getting 20 movies about this every year for the last 80 years.
It's not about Germany being bad. It's about evil in its purest form which people are curious and want to learn about. Since AH was Austrian and built the most evil empire in history which was N Germany that is why we get so many films about it. You can literally brainwash and terrorise any nation and people on earth into committing all kinds of crimes, all you need is power, control of education system, media, time and so on and of course a tyrannic psychopath in control of all of it. Unfortunately it was Germany who happened to be it.
Aww. Well, into every life a little ash must fall, waffel.
You sound awfully triggered, do you need a bit of kugel?