MovieChat Forums > The Zone of Interest (2024) Discussion > Mixed feelings on this one. It's deep an...

Mixed feelings on this one. It's deep and unsettling, but drags on long

posted 9 months ago by johnnybiscotti (445)
10 replies | jump to latest

I did not know anything about this movie other than what the imdb blurb said, that the commander of Auschwitz and family lives next door to the camp.

Once you realize you are watching a calm lifestyle, reminiscent of a southern plantation in the US complete with servants, with the unseen horrors quite literally in the background - it begins to uncomfortably gnaw at you. You see this family deal with mundane things while the unspeakable is happening at dad's workplace just across the garden.

So this juxtaposition is sustained for the whole of the movie, and it is effective. There are moments where it comes to the surface, but those are few and far between. There were times where I felt this dragged on too long. But ultimately I found myself thinking about this movie sitting around alone, the next day. It's certainly not a waste of time, and worth seeing. But, maybe because we have seen this ugly chapter in history portrayed powerfully many times before, it struggles to hold our attention.

I did not know this was based on a novel, and from what I've read about it (just wikipedia) it is loosely based, and does not resemble what the heart of the novel was about but more its setting.

Performances were great, and the low tone of the film works for what it tries to do.

[–] [deleted] 9 months ago

hoss never felt any guilt at what he was doing either.

[–] jonnycat (46) 7 months ago

Maybe you should have watched an MCU movie instead, I could have easily spent more time in this world.

[–] johnnybiscotti (445) 7 months ago

Glad to hear. Thanks for the suggestion but I don't really like MCU films, except maybe the Galaxy ones. Not sure if you achieved your objective with this comment.

[–] MNRebecca (769) 6 months ago

“…the low tone of the film works for what it tries to do.”

Could we discuss that? The excess long shots are driving me crazy. It’s virtually nothing but long shots! I feel we don’t see anywhere enough of the actors’ faces. Maybe they are trying to keep us a safe distance from monsters, so to speak, but I want more insight into the characters, and for that I need to see more of their faces. Thoughts?

[–] johnnybiscotti (445) 6 months ago

I meant that, the way the household goes about their daily routines while the unspeakable was happening behind the wall - there was an eerie horror about it. It has been a while so I can't remember exactly what they were doing, but for example imagine doing dishes and laundry and just going about your household work while you know what is happening next door. That unsettling tone persists through the film. At the same time, I felt like I had seen this before. It's always horrifying, even when not a new idea.

[–] MartyDeniro (4171) 6 months ago

The point is to give you a fly on the wall perspective, like a hidden camera set up to monitor the habits of some animal in its natural habitat. The actors weren't even aware of where some of the cameras were. You're supposed to feel like you're eavesdropping on the actual thing. Close-ups and the type of characterization you're looking for would make it too stylized.

[–] MNRebecca (769) 5 months ago

Good points, thanks to both of you.

[–] Okto101423 (283) 6 months ago

It was boring and pretentious as fuck.

[–] Ghonchupapod (5) 13 days ago

It was never supposed to be an exciting watch. When the Schindlers List had come out, many famous directors such as Haneke had remarked that it was wrong of Spielberg to use his storytelling skills to create suspense in such a movie. Such as the scene where the prisoners are waiting inside a shower and audience is wondering whether this is going to be a normal shower or a execution.

We are supposed to witness the "Banality of Evil". How unspeakable evil can be carried out in extremely banal ways and mundane settings.

The movie is as interesting as the knowledge the individual viewer brings to the theater.

[–] Creamofdacrop884 (1681) 13 days ago

Agree with your take. It's well done on a technical level, but I felt like by the halfway point it had said everything it had to say. It just started to drag on and on the more it went.