The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer reveals why the historical film opens on an all-black screen. The movie is loosely based on Martin Amis’ book of the same name. It tells the disturbing true story of Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), a commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp who raised his family just yards away. The movie is a dark and thought-provoking dive into the nature of evil and indifference, and it opens with a simple black screen that lasts for several beats before the first frame comes up.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Glazer explained why he chose to open The Zone of Interest with a black screen. The reason is to allow viewers to tune their ears for the film instead of focusing only on tuning their eyes. This is because the unique soundtrack holds much meaning. As a result, the blank screen prepares viewers by reminding them The Zone of Interest is meant to be heard as well as seen. Check out his statement below:
I wanted viewers to realize that they’re submerging. It was a way of tuning your ears before you tune your eyes to what you’re about to view. There is the movie you see here — and there is the movie you hear.
The Zone Of Interest Ending Explained
Jonathan Glazer’s groundbreaking The Zone of Interest offers a contemplative and haunting lens on the Höss family and their distortedly idyllic home.
Why Viewers Need To Hear The Zone of Interest
Given that all films tend to come with a soundtrack and score, it begs the question of why it’s particularly important to hone one’s ears before watching The Zone of Interest. The reason why it’s important to listen to the movie is because of its unusual audio. Like most films, it comes with a track that includes all the dialogue, music, and sound effects. However, it also comes with a second track, filled solely with haunting sounds from Auschwitz.
When viewers watch The Zone of Interest, they hear the two soundtracks mixed together. Hence, the dialogue and score are accompanied by sounds of screams, gunshots, and chimneys bellowing out smoke. The sound mixing further helps to highlight the Höss family’s indifference. Though viewers can hear the sounds from Auschwitz, the family is inexplicably never bothered by it. To them, it is just background noise as they go about their daily lives.
The Zone of Interest‘s unique sounds drive home the point of the film. The sounds allow it to explore the idea of how people simply get used to horror and evil over time. Even viewers get accustomed to the sounds, sometimes wondering if they hear a scream or a plane passing overhead. It also explores how viewers and the characters can look away from evil but can’t just turn off all their senses to it. Ultimately, viewers must tune their ears before The Zone of Interest and experience themselves how evil can be ignored or adapted to.
The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest is a historical war drama by writer-director Jonathan Glazer. Set during World War 2, the film follows Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, as he tries to build a dream home right next door to the camp.
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- Director
- Jonathan Glazer
- Cast
- Christian Friedel , Sandra Hüller , Ralph Herforth , Luis Noah Witte , Johann Karthaus
- Runtime
- 105 Minutes
- Writers
- Jonathan Glazer
- Studio(s)
- Film4 , Access , Polish Film Institute
- Distributor(s)
- A24
