The British film “The Zone of Interest” directed by Jonathan Glazer has made history by winning the United Kingdom its first Academy Award for Best International Feature at the 2024 Oscars. The film, a German-language Holocaust drama starring Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller, was praised by Glazer for its relevance to current conflicts, particularly the ongoing situation in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
In his acceptance speech, Glazer emphasized the film’s exploration of dehumanization and its consequences, drawing parallels between historical atrocities and present-day conflicts. He dedicated the win to a woman named Alexandria, who inspired a key character in the film with her acts of humanity during her time with the Polish resistance.
“The Zone of Interest” portrays the life of Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and his family against the backdrop of the Holocaust’s horrors. Producer James Wilson highlighted the film’s examination of societal attitudes and the exclusion of certain groups in the pursuit of comfort and security.
The win marks a significant achievement for the UK film industry, which had previously been nominated twice in the category but had never won. “The Zone of Interest” triumphed over strong competition from films such as “Io Capitano” (Italy), “Perfect Days” (Japan), “Society of the Snow” (Spain), and “The Teacher’s Lounge” (Germany).
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