Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest has been receiving the best of acclaim since it premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The historical drama, following German Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to create a new life for their family next to the Auschwitz concentration camp, has emerged as a formidable contender for top honors at the Oscars.
However, filmmaker Glazer revealed in an interview with The Guardian that bringing this story to the screen presented significant challenges for him, especially after his father objected to it.
Jonathan Glazer Opened Up About the Challenging Journey to Make The Zone of Interest
Exploring the harrowing subject matter, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest has captivated audiences and critics alike, earning prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and five Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The writer-director of the film has a background deeply rooted in the Jewish community. Although it provided the foundation to put forth the haunting legacy of the Holocaust, it also presented some personal setbacks for the filmmaker.
In an interview with The Guardian, The Zone of Interest director opened up about his father’s reservations about this project. “He said: ‘I don’t know what you’re doing this for. Why are you digging it up? Let it rot,” Glazer recalled his late father’s words upon learning about his project.
The filmmaker has shared that although his late father’s words continued to haunt him, he still did not back out. “I remember saying to him: ‘I really wish I could let it rot, but, no, Dad, it’s not in the past,” Glazer shared during the interview, highlighting that he could not help but continue down the path, despite having doubts on multiple occasions.
Jonathan Glazer Contemplated Abandoning The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer has shared that his journey to bring The Zone of Interest to fruition was marked by uncertainty and doubts. The filmmaker admits grappling with the daunting subject matter, at times contemplating abandoning the project altogether. He told The Guardian,
“I had a very strange relationship with the project right from the off—This was the road I was going down and I couldn’t stop myself going down it, but at the same time I was ready to pull back from it at any moment. I almost wanted to hit a brick wall so I could turn around and say: ‘You know what? I tried and I can’t do it.’ I was almost willing that to happen.”
Despite the personal turmoil, Glazer dedicated nearly a decade to meticulously crafting a film that refuses to shy away from confronting the horrors of the Holocaust. As the Oscars loom on the horizon, The Zone of Interest has now become an unexpected contender challenging the frontrunner, Oppenheimer.
The Zone of Interest is available to buy on Prime Video.
