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The Zone of Interest
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - America - A24 Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (5th August 2024). |
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The Film
 "The Zone of Interest" garnered significant acclaim at this year's Academy Awards, earning five nominations and winning two Oscars (Best International Feature Film and Best Sound). Its haunting portrayal of the banality of evil also earned Jonathan Glazer a nomination for Best Director, acknowledging his masterful and restrained storytelling. "The Zone of Interest" is a stark and haunting film, adapted from the novel by Martin Amis. The film offers a chilling exploration of the banality of evil through its portrayal of the lives of Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz, and his family, who live just outside the concentration camp. The narrative delves into the juxtaposition of the mundane daily life of the Höss family with the horrors occurring just beyond their garden walls. This contrast is at the heart of the film's unsettling atmosphere. The film refrains from showing the atrocities directly, instead creating a sense of dread through its setting and the characters' indifference. The film garnered considerable controversy, primarily due to its focus on the perpetrators' domestic lives rather than the victims' suffering during the Holocaust. This perspective shift has sparked debate about ethical representation, with critics concerned it might minimize the horrors experienced by the victims. The film's choice to imply rather than explicitly show the atrocities has also been divisive, with some praising its subtlety while others feel it downplays the severity of the events. Additionally, the portrayal of the Höss family as ordinary people living idyllic lives juxtaposed with their participation in the atrocities creates unsettling moral ambiguity. This approach raises sensitive issues about historical accuracy and the portrayal of evil, prompting strong reactions and intense discussions about the film's impact and significance. Despite the controversy, the performances these actors give are profoundly compelling. Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss presents a chillingly detached figure, embodying the bureaucratic efficiency of the Nazi regime. Sandra Hüller, portraying his wife Hedwig, delivers a performance that is both disturbingly normal and subtly menacing. Her character's focus on domestic bliss, while being fully aware of the nearby horrors, is portrayed with unsettling realism. Glazer's direction is meticulous and restrained, using long, static shots to emphasize the stark contrast between the serene household and the brutal reality of the Holocaust. The cinematography by Łukasz Żal captures this dichotomy beautifully, with a serene and almost idyllic depiction of the Höss home set against the implied backdrop of the camp. The film's sound design is another crucial element, employing ambient sounds and an eerie, understated score to build tension and evoke a sense of unease. This minimalist approach forces the audience to confront the horror through implication rather than direct representation. "The Zone of Interest" is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking film that challenges viewers to reflect on the nature of evil and the capacity for normalcy amidst atrocity. It is a powerful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the disturbing ordinariness of those who perpetrated it. Glazer's film stands out as a unique and poignant contribution to Holocaust cinema, compelling in its quiet horror and moral interrogation.
Video
Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.78:1 mastered in 4K 2160p 24/fps using HEVC compression and features HDR10 enhancement. This A24 production features a stunning transfer, beautifully crisp, detailed, colourful, vibrant. It captures the intent of the filmmakers to the tee. The image displays accurate detail, natural skin tones, deep blacks. It's about as pristine as you can get.
Audio
Two audio tracks are presented here in the film's original German Dolby Atmos as well as an English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. The German Atmos track is fantastic, accurately representing the Oscar winning sound mix with depth and precision. Dialogue is clean and clear, surround activity is vibrant and immersive while being subtle. No complaints. Optional subtitles are included in English, English for the hearing impaired, and Spanish.
Extras
A24 has released this film with only a handful of supplements, below is a closer look. "Aleksandra" is a featurette (7:40), this is a first person perspective of Aleksandra, a woman who took part in the underground movement in WWII. "Filming Zone" documentary (with optional commentary by Production Designer Chris Oddy, Costume Designer Malgorzata Karpiuk, Director of Photography Łukasz Żal, and Editor Paul Watts) (32:05), this piece takes a closer look at the making of the film during principle photography and features some insightful commentary from the filmmakers. Easily the best extra on this disc. "Sunbeams" is a music video by Joseph Wulf (2:45) While these extras make a nice addition to this set, the premium price leaves a lot to be desired, a Glazer commentary would not have gone amiss.
Packaging
Packaged in a digipak that includes 6 postcards with stills photography by Agata Gryzbowska and Kuba Kaminski. This 4K set is available exclusively at A24 Films Shop.
Overall
"The Zone of Interest" brings a unique and disturbing perspective to the Holocaust narrative and is one of the best films of 2023, A24 delivers a technically beautiful 4K release but the extras could have been more substantial.
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