Jonathan Glazer is set to introduce his widely acclaimed, Oscar-nominated and deeply devastating Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum on Thursday (Feb. 15).
In undoubtedly the most important premiere in “The Zone of Interest’s” global rollout, the Polish premiere sees the British director return to Auschwitz, where he shot elements of the movie and where the real-life story is set. Following the screening, Glazer will take part in a discussion with museum director Piotr Cywiński, producer Jim Wilson, producer Ewa Puszczyńska and production designer Chris Oddy.
The film —which bowed in Cannes and won the Grand Prix — centers on the family life of Rudolf Höss, the architect and commandant of Auschwitz, where more than 1.1 million people were murdered by the Nazis during WWII, juxtaposing the blissful domestic existence he enjoys alongside his wife against the backdrop of one of history’s darkest chapters. Christian Friedel stars as Höss and Sandra Hüller plays Hedwig Höss.
based on the novel by Martin Amis (1949-2023) and backed by A24, Film4, Access Entertainment and House Productions, “The Zone of Interest” is currently nominated for five Oscars, including best picture and best director, and goes into the BAFTA Awards this Sunday with nine nominations. At the recent London Critics Circle Film Awards it was named film the year, with Glazer winning the best director prize.
“The Zone of Interest” is already Glazer’s most successful film to date in the U.K., where it has earned more than $1.5 million. Globally, its box office stand in excess of $10 million, having expanded to 593 screens in the U.S. Several major markets, including Germany, Australia and New Zealand, Italy and Japan, are yet to open.
Among the widespread praise for the film, Alfonso Cuarón recently called it “the most important film in the last century.”
