‘The Zone of Interest’ Director Condemns War in Gaza as He Accepts Oscar for Best Int’l Film 

James Wilson (L) Leonard Blavatnik (C) and Jonathan Glazer (R) after winning the Oscar for the Best International Feature Film during the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, 10 March 2024. (EPA)
James Wilson (L) Leonard Blavatnik (C) and Jonathan Glazer (R) after winning the Oscar for the Best International Feature Film during the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, 10 March 2024. (EPA)
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‘The Zone of Interest’ Director Condemns War in Gaza as He Accepts Oscar for Best Int’l Film 

James Wilson (L) Leonard Blavatnik (C) and Jonathan Glazer (R) after winning the Oscar for the Best International Feature Film during the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, 10 March 2024. (EPA)
James Wilson (L) Leonard Blavatnik (C) and Jonathan Glazer (R) after winning the Oscar for the Best International Feature Film during the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, 10 March 2024. (EPA)

The harrowing Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest,” which explores questions of complicity while depicting the mundane lives of a Nazi family in their home adjacent to the Auschwitz death camp, won the Academy Award for best international film.

“Our film shows where dehumanization leads, at its worst,” writer-director Jonathan Glazer said. “Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel, or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims, this humanization, how do we resist?”

Glazer's reference to Israel’s war in Gaza came after pro-Palestinian protesters snarled traffic around the Dolby Theatre as the Oscars kicked off.

In her review, The Associated Press’ Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Glazer “has found a way to convey the evil of Nazism without ever depicting the horror itself. But though it escapes our eyes, the horror assaults our senses in other, deeper ways.”

Glazer said he hopes the film will draw attention to current conflicts in the world. “All our choices are made to reflect and confront us in the present. Not to say, ‘Look what they did then,’ rather ‘look what we do now,” he said.

Sandra Hüller, one of the film's stars, wept as Glazer's hands shook while reading his acceptance speech.

Hüller plays Hedwig, the wife of Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the bloodthirsty commandant of Auschwitz. The film was the United Kingdom's submission to the Oscars.

In the film, the couple and their children go about their daily routines — living in a home just on the other side of a stone wall from the gas chambers. Höss spends his work days overseeing the “processing” of trainloads of people, most sent directly to their deaths. Then he comes home, where he and Hedwig share meals, celebrate birthdays, read their kids bedtime stories and make vacation plans.

Glazer adapted the screenplay loosely from the 2014 Martin Amis novel of the same name, but chose to depict the real-life commandant. Aiming for a chilling meticulousness, the director pieced together the Höss family history and built the set for their home some 200 yards (183 meters) from where the real one once stood.

“The Zone of Interest” was also up for best picture, which made it the favorite to win in the international category. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best sound, which it won; best director, which Christopher Nolan received for best picture winner “Oppenheimer;” and adapted screenplay, which went to Cord Jefferson for “American Fiction." Hüller was nominated for best actress for “Anatomy of a Fall,” but the award went to Emma Stone for “Poor Things.”

Last year the winner of best international picture was “All Quiet on the Western Front,” a German-language film set in World War I.

Also nominated for best international feature were “Society of the Snow” (Spain), “The Teachers’ Lounge” (Germany), “Io Capitano” (Italy) and “Perfect Days” (Japan).



Trevor Noah Is Tapped to Once Again Host the Grammy Awards

Trevor Noah arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)
Trevor Noah arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)
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Trevor Noah Is Tapped to Once Again Host the Grammy Awards

Trevor Noah arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)
Trevor Noah arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)

The Grammy Awards are sticking with their man: Trevor Noah will host the show for the fifth consecutive time, the Grammys announced Tuesday.

The comedian, best known for hosting Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” from 2015 to 2022, will once more be front and center Feb. 2, when the awards show is broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS. This year's telecast will also raise funds to support relief efforts after wildfires devastated the Grammys' hometown, the statement said.

Each of the last three telecasts has improved on the last's ratings, culminating in 2024, when 16.9 million Americans watched — the highest TV audience since the 2020 ceremony.

Last year, the comedian joked about the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, and made fun of TikTok and Universal Music Group. “So anything can happen, right?” he said in his monologue. “This is like flying in a Boeing airplane. One minute there’s a door, the next one we are outside.”

The only other people to host five or more Grammy telecasts were musical artists: Andy Williams hosted seven shows, followed by John Denver with six and LL Cool J with five.

In addition to host, Noah will be a producer — and a nominee. His “Where Was I” has a nod for best comedy album. Noah was nominated in the same category last year for “I Wish You Would,” losing to Dave Chappelle. This time he’s up against offerings by Chappelle again, Ricky Gervais, Jim Gaffigan and Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Golden Globes.

Beyoncé goes into the night with the most nods. “Cowboy Carter” is up for album and country album of the year, and “Texas Hold ’Em” is nominated for record, song and country song of the year. Post Malone is just behind Beyoncé, with seven nominations, tied with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX, who earned her first nominations as a solo artist.