'Upon viewing a very early cut of this film, which lacked sound, I perceived this wall as the barrier between the two worlds. Only later did I realise that this wall was not a divide but a bridge between these two worlds,' added Piotr Cywiński.
Producer Ewa Puszczyńska emphasised that we are dealing with two films: 'One that we hear, and one that we see. We do not show the victims, but the perpetrators. However, what we hear, somewhere in the subconscious, builds up a picture of this nightmare. We see a “wonderful paradise” right next to hell. This horror becomes all the more terrifying.'
'We pondered whether we were inadvertently overlooking something by excluding numerous situations in the film and opting not to incorporate a narrator who could perhaps guide us through the experience. However, the young people I spoke to felt the film and its atmosphere. I hope this all-encompassing experience holds the most significant potential to infiltrate the subconscious and establish a profound connection to this tragedy,' underlined Jonathan Glazer.
'We wanted to place the audience in a position where they could somehow relate to the perspective of this family. We would like to be as objective as possible - to be observers and anthropologists,' said producer James Wilson.
Another theme explored in the film is the assistance provided to Auschwitz prisoners by Poles from Oświęcim and the surrounding area who lived outside the titular zone of interest.
'It is a story inspired by the fate of Aleksandra Kolodziejczyk, who helped the camp prisoners, risking her life and that of her family. The history of Höss and everything uncovered about him was dark and pitch-black. It gave us no hope, and we looked for something to lighten that darkness a little,' said Bartosz Rainski.
As the filming could not be done on the historical site, the filmmakers had to digitally scan part of the post-camp space. Only the film's final sequences, documentary footage showing the Museum's work and the objects left behind by the victims, were shot on the Museum's premises.
"The Zone of Interest' was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The picture will officially be released in Polish cinemas on 8 March.
“The Zone of Interest"
Director and screenwriter: Jonathan Glazer
Producers: James Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska
Co-producers: Bartek Rainski, Bugs Hartley
A24 Films, Film 4, Access Entertainment