BolyFlix immerses you in “The Zone of Interest,” where idyllic domesticity masks unimaginable horrors. A sprawling garden party unfolds, children laugh, and dogs bark, yet the unsettling sounds of distant screams and industrial clamor penetrate the cheerful facade. We are introduced to Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz, a meticulous man striving for career advancement while his wife, Hedwig Höss (Sandra Hüller), reigns over their meticulously curated home like a queen. Their children, including the young Claus Höss (Johann Karthaus), play seemingly innocent games, blissfully unaware of the atrocities unfolding just beyond the manicured hedges. Inge-Brigit Höss (Nele Ahrensmeier) whispers secrets to her sister, their innocence a stark contrast to the smoke billowing in the distance. As the family thrives, the chilling juxtaposition of their lives against the backdrop of unspeakable evil begins to unravel, forcing us to confront the disturbing banality of their existence within the “Zone of Interest.”
The Zone of Interest Movie Overview
Title | The Zone of Interest |
---|---|
Release Status | Released |
Release Date | 2023-12-15 |
Runtime | 1 hours and 45 minutes |
Genre | Drama, History, War |
Original Language | En |
Spoken Language | German, Polish, Yiddish |
Country | Poland, United Kingdom, United States of America |
Production Co. | A24, Film4 Productions, Access Entertainment, JW Films, Extreme Emotions |
The Zone of Interest Movie Cast
Name | Character |
---|---|
Christian Friedel | Rudolf Höss |
Sandra Hüller | Hedwig Höss |
Johann Karthaus | Claus Höss |
Luis Noah Witte | Hans Höss |
Nele Ahrensmeier | Inge-Brigit Höss |
Lilli Falk | Heideraud Höss |
Anastazja Drobniak | Annagret Höss |
Cecylia Pekala | Annagret Höss |
Kalman Wilson | Annagret Höss |
Medusa Knopf | Elfriede |
Maximilian Beck | Schwarzer |
Andrey Isaev | Bronek |
Julia Babiarz | Young Polish Housemaid |
Stephanie Petrowitz | Sophie |
Martyna Poznanski | Marta |
Zuzanna Kobiela | Aniela |
Benjamin Utzerath | Fritz Sander, Topf & Sons |
Thomas Neumann | Karl Prüfer, Topf & Sons |
Klaudiusz Kaufmann | Obersturmbannführer Bischoff |
Justyna Szklarska | Prisoner Gardener #1 |
Kacper Piwko | Prisoner Gardener #2 |
Marie Rosa Tietjen | Hedwig’s Friend #1 |
Antje Falk | Hedwig’s Friend #2 |
Jakub Sierenberg | SS Officer #1 |
Joerg Sierenberg | SS Officer #2 |
Joerg Giessler | SS Officer #3 |
Heiko Lange | SS Officer #4 |
Marek Łukasik | SS Officer #5 |
Bernhard Schirmer | SS Horseman |
Julia Polaczek | Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk |
Shenja Lacher | Gauleiter Fritz Bracht (voice) |
Imogen Kogge | Hedwig’s Mother |
Wiktoria Wisniewska | Heideraud’s School Friend |
Paulina Burzyk | Claus’ Girlfriend |
Anna Marciniszyn | Redheaded Woman |
Agnieszka Wierny | Aleksandra’s Mother |
Patryk Mika | Polish Partisan at Table |
Tomasz Piwko | Kapo Bohner |
Carsten Koch | War-Wounded Soldier #1 |
Heinz Nielow | War-Wounded Soldier #2 |
Christine Schröder | Woman in Park with Dog |
Marnius Fislage | Höss’ Adjutant |
Ralph Herforth | Oswald Pohl |
Daniel Holzberg | Gerhard Maurer |
Rainer Haustein | Richard Glücks |
Daniel Hoffman | Dr. Meindl, Steyr-Daimier-Puch |
Wolfgang Lampl | Hans Burger |
Oscar Lebeck | Glücks’ Adjutant |
Christian Willy | SS Doctor |
Freya Kreutzkam | Eleanor Pohl |
Leo Meier | IKL Announcer (voice) |
Barbara Koszałka | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Izabela Bara | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Anna Kuwik | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Mariola Karczewska | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Halina Drzymota | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Dominika Matonóg | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Ewelina Kaczor | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Małgorzata Żurek | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Barbara Jakubowska | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Elżbieta Bronka | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Zuzanna Janusik | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Cleaner |
Sascha Maaz | Arthur Liebehenschel (uncredited) |
Ralf Zillmann | Hoffmann (uncredited) |
Christopher Manavi | Minor Role (uncredited) |
The Zone of Interest Movie Storyline
In the chilling landscape of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, the camp commandant, and his wife Hedwig Höss, are determined to create an idyllic life for their family within the shadow of unimaginable horror. They reside in a comfortable house with a flourishing garden, physically separated from the camp by a high wall, yet inescapably connected by the ever-present sounds and subtle visual cues of the atrocities occurring just beyond. Hedwig, a fiercely protective mother, revels in her domain, cultivating her garden with the same ruthless efficiency her husband applies to his work. Their children, including Claus Höss and Inge-Brigit Höss, play innocently, oblivious to the true nature of their surroundings, nurtured in an environment of denial and meticulously constructed normalcy. The arrival of Hedwig’s mother disrupts their carefully maintained façade, as she grapples with the moral implications of her daughter’s choices and the unsettling reality of their proximity to such profound suffering. As Rudolf navigates the complexities of his duties and a potential transfer, Hedwig fiercely resists any disruption to their meticulously crafted paradise, revealing the depth of her chilling ambition and unwavering commitment to their sinister dream. The film unfolds as a haunting exploration of human capacity for compartmentalization and the insidious banality of evil, leaving a disquieting portrait of a family thriving in the very epicenter of inhumanity.
The Zone of Interest Movie Details
In the chilling historical drama, The Zone of Interest, director Jonathan Glazer crafts a disquieting portrait of domestic life juxtaposed against the horrors of the Holocaust. Set in Auschwitz, the film follows Rudolf Höss, chillingly portrayed by Christian Friedel, the commandant of the concentration camp, and his wife Hedwig Höss, embodied by Sandra Hüller, as they meticulously cultivate an idyllic existence for their family within the shadow of unimaginable suffering. Their meticulously maintained house and flourishing garden stand in stark contrast to the adjacent camp, where the sounds of brutality and despair permeate the air, a constant, unsettling reminder of the atrocities committed just beyond their fence. As Rudolf navigates his career within the Nazi regime, grappling with the logistical challenges of mass extermination, Hedwig reigns over her domestic empire, fiercely protective of her family’s comfort and social standing, even as the ashes of the dead drift into their backyard. Their children, including Claus Höss and Inge-Brigit Höss, grow up in a world where normalcy is disturbingly intertwined with the industrialised murder of millions. The film delves into themes of complicity, denial, and the disturbing banality of evil, challenging viewers to confront the unsettling reality of how ordinary people can become perpetrators of extraordinary cruelty, all while striving to achieve their version of the perfect life. The film avoids graphic depictions of violence, instead focusing on the psychological impact of living in proximity to such horror, creating a haunting and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
The Zone of Interest Movie Poster Images




Movie Trailers
Filming Zone – Official Featurette Clip
Aleksandra Bystroń-Kołodziejczyk – Official Featurette Clip
The Zone of Interest Movie FAQs
What is the movie “The Zone of Interest” about?
“The Zone of Interest” focuses on Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to create an idyllic family life in their home and garden located next to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Who are the main actors in “The Zone of Interest”?
The film stars Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss and Sandra Hüller as Hedwig Höss.
What genres does “The Zone of Interest” fall into?
This movie is primarily a Drama, with elements of History and War.
When was “The Zone of Interest” released?
The movie was released on December 15, 2023.
Which production companies were involved in the making of “The Zone of Interest”?
A24, Film4 Productions, Access Entertainment, JW Films, and Extreme Emotions were among the production companies involved.
Where was “The Zone of Interest” filmed?
The movie was filmed in Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America
What languages are spoken in “The Zone of Interest”?
The film features dialogue in German, Polish, and Yiddish.
What is the runtime of “The Zone of Interest”?
The movie has a runtime of 105 minutes.