The nominations for this year’s Oscar Awards are highly contested, although there are two films that are competing head to head to be the best of the year: Oppenheimer and Poor Things. Both films have more nominations than any other, and it seems they will lead in the creative categories.
However, there is another film that could surprise and become the most acclaimed: The Zone of Interest. It is the main competitor of The Snow Society for being the best international film, and it has a total of five nominations. But why is it a must-see movie?
Why The Interest Zone deserves to win the Oscar
The area of interest tells the story of Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the director of the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. However, the film is not about his day-to-day life in the concentration camp, which would seem logical, but about his life beyond these walls and fences.
While working in the concentration camp, Rudolf Höss tries to build an idyllic family life with his family in a house located on the outskirts of the camp. We see, then, what his day-to-day life is like beyond the havoc he wreaks on the prisoners, and we delve into a life that anyone could have in which he suspects his wife is being unfaithful to him.
Undoubtedly, the premise of the movie is the most interesting, and it is something that we have rarely seen and that is very necessary nowadays to understand the rise of the far right around the world. The implicit reflection is that anyone can be a Nazi, and under the normative and almost ideal appearance of life, historical horrors can be hidden.
Another reason why the movie is worth it is the director’s perspective. It’s not just that the story it tells is interesting, but his perspective is unique. Jonathan Glazer, the filmmaker, is known for other unique experimental works such as Under the Skin or Birth, and he has returned to directing after many years on hiatus.
And if we add to this the role played by the cast, the film becomes an essential gem. Both Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller and Ralph Herforth are wonderful in their roles, and undoubtedly the film deserves recognition at the Oscars.
