The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has awarded the UK-Polish historical drama ‘The Zone of Interest’ with the best film not in the English language. The film, directed by Jonathan Glazer and based on the 2014 novel by Martin Amis, focuses on the family of Auschwitz concentration camp commandant Rudolf Höss. The film has also been nominated for Oscars and portrays the concept of a family living a regular life next door to the horrors of the concentration camp.
Rudolf Höss ran Auschwitz between 1940 and 1943, using poisonous insecticide Zyklon B to gas prisoners. The film portrays the stark contrast of the commandant’s family enjoying a comfortable life just meters away from the camp’s atrocities. The director, Glazer, chose to hint at the terrible events inside the camp, incorporating muffled screams, gunshots, and the churn of machinery, while smoke billows overhead from the crematoria.
The evening also featured a performance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who sang ‘Murder on the Dance Floor’, a song that regained popularity thanks to the film ‘Saltburn’, directed by Emerald Fennell. The song is featured in a nude finale scene in the film and has sparked viral tributes. Dressed in a black dress and orange sash, Ellis-Bextor was supported by energetic backing singers, with actor Barry Keoghan, who stars in the ‘Saltburn’ film, cheering enthusiastically at the end of her performance.
The BAFTA ceremony highlighted the power of storytelling through film and recognized outstanding performances and contributions to the industry. The award-winning films shed light on important historical events and the impact of art on society. The recognition of ‘The Zone of Interest’ and the performance of ‘Murder on the Dance Floor’ at the BAFTA ceremony further solidify the influence of film and music in capturing the human experience and historical narrative.
