The two most chilling scenes in recent cinema – The Zone of Interest

These two scenes are from the film 'The Zone of Interest,' written and directed by Jonathan Glazer, and winner of the 96th Academy Award (Oscar) for 'Best Sound' and 'Best International Film.'

Set in 1943 during World War II, the film tells the tale of Rudolf Höss, commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, who strives to build a dream life for his family in a house and garden beside the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Scene 1:

In the first scene, we see the main character, Rudolf Höss, relaxing and chilling in his backyard smoking a cigarette. In the background, the screams of Jews being tortured and burned in the crematory ovens can be heard. The juxtaposition of Rudolf’s calm demeanor and the horrific sounds creates a chilling effect. The scene culminates with Rudolf smoking by his pool, while smoke rises from the camp’s chimney, a disturbing reminder of the atrocities occurring just beyond his serene garden.

Scene 2:

The second scene is even more harrowing. We look up at Rudolf Höss with a close-up shot while he sits impassively on his horse at the Auschwitz concentration camp railway station (That's the scene headstone in the script). The sounds of women, children, and babies screaming in panic fill the air as mothers are forcibly separated from their children. Amidst dog barks, male German voices yelling orders, the hiss of a steam train engine, a child's cry, and a gunshot. Rudolf's cold, gelid expression remains unchanged. The auditory experience, combined with Rudolf’s impassive face, makes this scene one of the most eerie and chilling depictions in recent cinema.

These scenes from 'The Zone of Interest' are some of the most chilling in recent cinema, masterfully illustrating the banality of evil and the horrors of the Holocaust through their haunting and deeply unsettling portrayal, in a way never seen before in cinema.

'The Zone of Interest" (2023) Directed by: Jonathan Glazer Writers: Jonathan Glazer, Martin Amis Stars: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus Distributed by: A24

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