“The Zone of Interest,” a German-language Holocaust drama directed by Jonathan Glazer, won the United Kingdom its first-ever Academy Award for Best International Feature at the 2024 Oscars. The film tells the story of the family of one of the top Nazi generals at Auschwitz, set against the backdrop of the Holocaust’s atrocities.
In his acceptance speech, Glazer connected the film’s subject to current events, particularly the conflict in Gaza. He emphasized the importance of confronting the present-day consequences of dehumanization, drawing parallels between past atrocities and ongoing conflicts.
Glazer, who is Jewish, dedicated the film’s win to a woman named Alexandria, who inspired one of the key characters in the movie. Alexandria had worked for the Polish resistance at Auschwitz, and her acts of humanity are depicted in the film using thermal cameras.
“Zone of Interest” stars Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and Sandra Hüller as his wife, Hedwig. The film explores the emotional and political culture surrounding perpetrators and the exclusion of certain groups from comfort and security.
This win is significant for the U.K., as it had been nominated in the best international feature category twice before but had never won. “The Zone of Interest” competed against films from Italy, Japan, Spain, and Germany to secure the award.
