As harrowing as it is thought-provoking, this British (though German-language) film by director Jonathan Glazer may demonstrate the banality of evil more than any film in history. On one level, it’s a presentation of the mundane day-to-day life of SS officer Rudolf Hess (Christian Friedel) and his family in the house they shared next door to the Auschwitz concentration camp. On an entirely other level, it’s a brutal and terrifying reminder of the atrocities committed steps away from his front door. Though nothing is shown, per se, the horrible truth is presented audibly, as, throughout the film, we hear gunshots, screams, and the roar of the crematoriums in the near distance. It’s a brilliantly crafted and haunting paradoxical masterpiece that stands among the most important films of the year.
5/5 stars