BASED ON THE true story of Dr. Miklos Nyiszli, a Hungarian Jew chosen by Josef Mengele to be the head pathologist at Auschwitz, “The Grey Zone” brings us into the unsettling reality of the Holocaust.
As part of Auschwitz’s Sonderkommandos – “Special Squads” of Jewish prisoners, Nysizli is faced with the moral dilemma of aiding the Nazis in the extermination of other Jews, in exchange for better living conditions and an extension of his own life.
Although these prisoners do not partake in the executions themselves, they find it excruciatingly painful to stand by and watch, not able to do anything for themselves or those around them. As the film continues, they begin to question themselves as to what extent they can keep on doing this and for what reasons.
Together, the Sonderkommandos struggled to organize the only armed revolt that would ever take place at Auschwitz. In this struggle a group of men discover a young girl who has against all odds survived the gas chambers.
Filled with the idea that they can somehow redeem themselves, these men become obsessed with saving this one life; even if this means endangering the uprising which could save thousands.
With an amazing cast of talented actors such as David Arquette, Mira Sorvino, Steve Buscemi, Allan Corduner and David Chandler, this film succeeds in its attempt to touch one’s soul.
Although the horrors of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany have been depicted before, this film brings out many issues that haven’t been touched upon, such as the Sonderkommandos. Instead of looking from the outside, this film tries to bring you into the horrors of the every day life of the camp by emulating a first-person perspective, as if we are looking through our own eyes, not through a camera’s lens.
“TheGrey Zone”is both written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson, who has been known to take on the diverse roles of actor, director, screenwriter and editor.
Nelson directed such films as “Eye of God”(1996) and “O” (2001), a modern reworking of William Shakespeare’s “Othello.” As an actor he has made his mark in “O Brother Where Art Thou?” (2000), “Minority Report” (2002) and “The Good Girl” (2002).
After seeing this movie once, you may not want to see it again due to its graphic and unsettling nature, but it’s an astonishing piece of work that should not be missed about a piece of history that should never be forgotten.
“The Grey Zone” is rated R for strong holocaust violence, nudity and language. It opens Friday.
