Dark clouds are on the horizon. A new film about the Holocaust, "The Zone of Interest," astonishingly portrays how the capacity for evil may be closer than we would like to countenance.
Excellent article but I wish you had also mentioned what is currently happening to millions in Gaza and our failure to stop it. What happened on October 7 last year was a huge tragedy. But how could anyone explain that one of the World's best army and intelligence did not know about it and let those murderers kill innocent people and abduct 250 men, women and children for about 8 hours and did nothing to stop it.
The Gaza War needs and receives much attention, and I have written about it in other pieces, and, I suspect, will again. My focus in this piece was different. One can only say and include so much. I thank you, Waheed, for your continuing interest. My best.
A thoughtful treatment of the subject of evil. I assume you saw the film in a movie theater. I hope it will be more broadly available on a streaming platform.
Thanks, Joe. A very important subject! But I want to suggest 3 movies that belong alongside Schindler’s List: Sophie’s Choice, The Pianist and especially Europa, Europa. Now I have to see Zone of Interest.
And thank you, Ed. I have seen the three films you cite. All excellent. As noted, the perspective of "The Zone of Interest" is radically difficult. The three films, as I recall, take the standpoint of the plight of individuals. "The Zone of Interest" is, I would conclude, radically different. Its protagonists are the perpetrators, who as mentioned, are oblivious of the evil are committing next door, forcing the viewers to ask whether they could be ensnared in a system and mindset that would enable them to be likewise complicit.
Excellent article but I wish you had also mentioned what is currently happening to millions in Gaza and our failure to stop it. What happened on October 7 last year was a huge tragedy. But how could anyone explain that one of the World's best army and intelligence did not know about it and let those murderers kill innocent people and abduct 250 men, women and children for about 8 hours and did nothing to stop it.
The Gaza War needs and receives much attention, and I have written about it in other pieces, and, I suspect, will again. My focus in this piece was different. One can only say and include so much. I thank you, Waheed, for your continuing interest. My best.
A thoughtful treatment of the subject of evil. I assume you saw the film in a movie theater. I hope it will be more broadly available on a streaming platform.
Yes. I did see it at the Angelika Film Forum in New York. To the best of my knowledge it is not yet streaming but should be in the future.
Excellent article, Joe on a difficult topic.
Many thanks, Jean. Difficult, I agree; but also necessary. I wish you a Happy and healthy New Year!
Thanks, Joe. A very important subject! But I want to suggest 3 movies that belong alongside Schindler’s List: Sophie’s Choice, The Pianist and especially Europa, Europa. Now I have to see Zone of Interest.
And thank you, Ed. I have seen the three films you cite. All excellent. As noted, the perspective of "The Zone of Interest" is radically difficult. The three films, as I recall, take the standpoint of the plight of individuals. "The Zone of Interest" is, I would conclude, radically different. Its protagonists are the perpetrators, who as mentioned, are oblivious of the evil are committing next door, forcing the viewers to ask whether they could be ensnared in a system and mindset that would enable them to be likewise complicit.