“My grandfather is the greatest mass murderer in human history.” That’s how The Commandant’s Shadow begins. It is a documentary confessional told mostly from the POV of the grandson of Rudolf “the Rudester” Höss, commandant of Auschwitz. We just did this, of course. Watch The Zone of Interest. It is a better film and covers exactly the same ground … including the exact same ground itself. No exaggeration.
The Commandant’s Shadow is based on the memoirs of Rudolf Höss, written from prison before his hanging. The memoirs are very matter-of-fact and clinical, well, except for the parts where he’s clearly boasting, like how he built Auschwitz entirely on a dream. Kinda like an evil Willy Wonka. “Oh, we had no money, nor materials, and the Nazi high command didn’t want to hear about the issues; they just wanted results … so, all I did was push a few thousand starving and broken Russian prisoners … and gosh if they didn’t die on me or turn to cannibalism, those ingrates, but I got it done.”
Seriously, this one is a direct quote, “Extermination was necessary to save Germany from adversaries.” Rudolf’s daughter figures the man had no choice. I mean, he HAD to kill a million Jews or he’d be in trouble. Well, sure, when you put it that way, I guess it was totally necessary. Next, why don’t you interview Don Jr. on how sane his father is; I’m sure we’ll get an honest and totally worthwhile answer. I’m disturbed by all these grown-ups who had happy childhoods living literally 190 yards from gas chambers.
Some of the survivors carry the requisite amount of guilt – their lives have been stunted, diminished. Our host shows us a grave marked “Mommy.” No outsider would be able to guess it is the gravesite of Frau Höss. Some have made their homes a tribute to lost lives, stolen lives. One of the most interesting survivor cases is the that of the camp cellist, a Jew who avoided the gas chambers entirely because the camp band needed a cello. I am
loathe to think of the circumstances under which the Camp Auschwitz band performed. And, geez, better not have an off day, miss. There are consequences, huh?
Did Rudolf Höss kill more people than anybody in human history? Hmmm, I would have credited Stalin with that title. Maybe Hitler. And I think we’re discounting a fair number of Asians … Attila the Hun almost certainly killed a similar number. I suppose it doesn’t matter. Monsters, all. I’m not happy that we are revisiting them as people. I’m less happy that this is not the first revisitation in less than a year. I won’t say we didn’t need this film … but it would have been better to come out ten years ago or ten years from now.
While this film is 100% redundant, there is a place for it because in the United States of 2024, we are still demonizing “others” out the wazoo. People like me actually want to see perhaps not open borders but a much more friendly immigration policies in the United States. Immigration makes us stronger. You WANT to be a country people flock to, not leave out of fear. This is what you want. But people like me are also realists; we know this argument holds no political weight and even Biden has to appear callous from time-to-time just to keep the constant attacks at bay. Films like this ought to remind us again and again and again of the evil which happens when you arbitrarily demonize a group. And don’t kid yourself, it is 100% arbitrary. The people who did this, the people who do this, do it for power and little else. I dunno if I would have “just gone with it” under similar circumstances, but I’d like to think I’d forfeit my own life long before claiming a million others.
There was once a camp at Auschwitz
As a result of the krieg, blitz
Luckily foreign, you see
Cuz our modern GOP
Would claim it was “like dining at the Ritz”
Rated PG-13, 103 Minutes
Director: Daniela Volker
Writer: Daniela Volker
Genre: Mett the Nazis!
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Hans-Jürgen Höss
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: The people who made Zone of Interest
