The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion Let’s not retreat into our own ‘Zone of Interest’

March 8, 2024 at 6:05 p.m. EST
Jonathan Glazer, left, and James Wilson pose in the winners room at the British Academy Film Awards in London on Feb. 18. (John Phillips/Getty Images)

Regarding Michael Andor Brodeur’s March 3 Critic’s Notebook, “Soundtrack reveals horrors hidden from sight in ‘Zone of Interest’” [Arts&Style]:

Ahead of the Academy Awards, it’s worth remembering recent thought-provoking insights from James Wilson, co-producer of the Oscar-nominated film “The Zone of Interest.” The film, which won three BAFTAs and is nominated for five Oscars, including best picture, follows fictionalized versions of Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss and his family as they build their dream home near the Auschwitz concentration camp, serving as a metaphor for the occlusion of systemic violence and oppression in our lives.

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Mr. Wilson’s acceptance speech at the BAFTAs drew attention to parallels between the characters’ decisions to ignore what was happening behind the gates of Auschwitz and the choice by some to look away from the horrors of war in Gaza. In a world marked by selective empathy, “The Zone of Interest” prompts us to confront uncomfortable truths and question the walls we build around certain issues. It serves as a reminder to look beyond the surface and engage in meaningful reflection.

Jagjit Singh, Los Altos, Calif.