The leader's dark presence - Film documenting Auschwitz's horrors.
Following the success of the movie "The Zone of Interest," a new documentary arrives in theaters, centering around the legacy of Rudolf Hoess, who commanded the Auschwitz extermination camp. Titled "The Shadow of the Commander," this film explores the life of his son Hans Jurgen Hoess, born in 1937 and residing in a family villa adjoining the Auschwitz concentration camp. This is the first time the young man has spoken in front of the camera about his dark family history.
A parallel narrative in Daniela Volker's documentary is the story of Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Jew who survived Auschwitz. As a capable cellist, she found solace in the orchestra within the camp. Following the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Nazi era, she relocated to the United Kingdom.
The documentary captures Hans Jurgen Hoess and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch together with their children Kai Hoss and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch as they face their past and the distinct burdens they oppose due to their origins.
"My grandfather is history’s biggest mass murderer"
Rudolf Hoess (1901-1947) was the head of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp for several years. In excess of a million Jewish and non-Jewish individuals were slain there brutally. "It's a fact, it's undeniable – my grandfather is history's biggest mass murderer," reveals his grandson Kai Hoss. This film compels viewers to inquire about his father's recollections as a child.
The documentary's climax occurs when Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and Hans Jurgen Hoess come face to face. Nearly a century later, they stand in Lasker-Wallfisch's London living room - Hoess has brought cake. "Nobody asked you which son you wanted to be," the Holocaust survivor tells Hoess, the son of Auschwitz's extermination camp commander. "The Holocaust has a lingering shadow. The trauma isn't solely on the part of survivors."
Concurrently, Lasker-Wallfisch discusses how profoundly she's been traumatized. She expresses, "Hell. Hell on Earth is Auschwitz."
The filmmaker incorporates a mix of current and historical recordings to chronicle the experiences of the protagonists. Viewers observe the childhood of Hans Jurgen Hoess, which includes birthdays and fond memories with his father at the pool - on the other hand, behind the fence is the horrific reality at the extermination camp. Additionally, this documentary takes the four individuals to Poland and the United States while they navigate their distinct responses to the past.
Read also:
- The documentary film "The Shadow of the Commander," set in Germany, delves into the legacy of Rudolf Höss, commandant of Auschwitz, whose story is also explored in the successful movie "The Zone of Interest."
- Hans Jürgen Höss, born in 1937 and living near Auschwitz, shares his perspective as the son of the notorious war criminal in the documentary, marking his first time speaking publicly about his family history.
- Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, shares her harrowing experiences as a member of the camp's orchestra in the film, eventually relocating to the United Kingdom after liberation.
- Kai Hoss, grandson of Rudolf Höss, acknowledges the weighty historical significance of his grandfather's actions, describing him as "history's biggest mass murderer."
- In a poignant moment, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch confronts Hans Jürgen Höss, drawing attention to the ongoing impact of the Holocaust and the burden of their shared heritage.
- The documentary weaves together a mix of contemporary and archival footage to depict the experiences of the film's key players, including the seemingly innocent childhood of Hans Jürgen Höss amidst the horrors of Auschwitz.
