edinadental

The Zone of Interest is very slow and very boring. I would be surprised if many people make it through the entire movie. I watched to the end, but my goal after about 60 minutes was writing a review warning viewers against wasting their time.

The film attempts to create a metaphor showing normal family life juxtaposed to the horror of the Hollocaust. Specifically, we watch a camp director and his German family living a "normal" existence next to a Concentration Camp. Emphasizing the eccentricity, the camp's wall with its barbed wire top borders the family's homestead where the children play.

The film's premise and metaphor fail. You never see the atrocities (which is not necessary for a film's plot), but only hear some screams, gunshots, and the constant sound of the human disposal ovens. Even the film's opening goes blank for an extended time, making the audience wonder if there is a visual failure.

This is generally a good movie, but it has some flaws. The first sixty minutes of this movie moves slowly, but there is information that important for plot development. The story then takes a very improbable plot twist that most viewers will declare as bogus. After this, the story and action become very exciting. If you can get past the stupid plot twist, this is a good movie with an excellent action-filled ending. The last 20 minutes are very exciting when the confusing plot elements are resolved. Don't watch this for a well written screenplay, but instead view this for good acting from relatively unknown actors.

The Canyon is an excellent film that holds your attention for its entire duration. Yvonne Strzechowsk is the female lead. She does an exceptional job presenting both a vulnerable (in relation to her husband's predicament) and very strong (for everything else) character.

Watch this movie. You will not be disappointed.