Deconstructing the conventions and unnecessary glorification of Holocaust films, Jonathan Glazer came up with The Zone of Interest, starring Sandra Hüller. Instead of trying to stage the horror of the Nazi atrocities, the director turned the viewers into a passive, perhaps complicit observer of the Höss family and their banal inhumanity.
However, despite Jonathan Glazer’s unconventional take on the film, Sandra Hüller was initially apprehensive about portraying Hedwig Höss, the real-life wife of Rudolf Höss, the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz. Considering films about the Holocaust as one of her red lines, Hüller had to be begged incessantly by the director to take on the role.
Holocaust Films Were a Big No for Sandra Hüller
Famously known for two of her incredible movies, Anatomy of a Fall and the Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest, Sandra Hüller took her career to another level. Gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s most versatile and fearless actresses, Hüller recalled during an interview with THR, how she was apprehensive about her role as the wife of a Nazi commandant, in Jonathan Glazer’s drama.
Claiming to consider Holocaust films as a big no, Sandra Hüller discussed the reason behind her perspective. Swearing to herself that she would never play a Nazi, Hüller admitted to finding Holocaust films as a “perversion” of re-creating the most atrocious period of human history using movie tricks.
“Someone moves in to powder your nose before you scream, ‘Heil Hitler!’ It’s just obscene.”
Therefore, the actress initially decided to keep her distance from Holocaust dramas. But things seemingly changed when Jonathan Glazer approached her with the role of Hedwig Höss in The Zone of Interest. Sought to play the role of the real-life wife of Rudolf Höss, the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz, Hüller admitted being initially hesitant.
Jonathan Glazer Had to Beg Sandra Hüller to Break Her Vow
So what changed Sandra Hüller’s notion to the point where she broke her vow of never starring in a Holocaust movie and agreed to play the role of Hedwig Höss? According to reports from THR, director Jonathan Glazer showed his dedication and determination to cast the actress. As per reports, Glazer’s incessant begging is what actually changed the Oscar nominee’s mind.
“[Hüller was] naturally very apprehensive about portraying Hedwig Höss. We spent months talking about the project before she agreed to the role. [But] I had no other actor in mind. For me, she was the only one capable of achieving it. It got to the point where I couldn’t imagine the film without her.”
Talking to Jonathan Glazer, facing his constant begging, and learning about how he was planning to tell the story of the Höss family in an unconventional way, Sandra Hüller eventually changed her mind. Realizing that Glazer was going to deconstruct the conventions and clichés of Holocaust films and simply focus on the Hösses’ inhumanity, Hüller seemingly agreed to be a part.
“Sandra told me: ‘I don’t want to give this woman my tears,’” says Christian Friedel, who plays Rudolf Höss.
Although Sandra Hüller agreed to be a part of The Zone of Interest, she refused to portray any sort of emotion. Turning the film into a series of chilling scenes with her performance, Hüller portrayed the role of a Nazi commander’s wife, who was well aware of the atrocities going on, on the other side of their house, but chose to look away.
The Zone of Interest is available for purchase on Apple TV.
