‘Zone of Interest’ Director Jonathan Glazer Uses Oscar Speech to Condemn the Israel-Hamas War

Jonathan Glazer’s acceptance speech at this year’s Oscars has sparked mixed reactions and ongoing debate over its meaning.

As he received the award for best international film for “The Zone of Interest,” set in Auschwitz, Glazer was met with a standing ovation. He referenced prepared notes, thanked those involved in the film’s production, and attempted to draw a parallel between “The Zone of Interest” and the current conflict in Gaza. However, the clarity of his message was obscured by the applause and his delivery.

According to the Academy’s official transcript of the speech, Glazer stated, “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present, not to say look what they did then, but rather look what we do now.” He continued, “Our film shows where dehumanization leads at its worst.

It’s shaped all of our past and present. 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 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?”

Glazer chose not to attend the backstage pressroom following his victory and has refrained from conducting interviews to elucidate the message he aimed to convey with his speech. He declined to provide a comment for this report.

Nevertheless, individuals have been vocal about their interpretations, reflecting a wide range of viewpoints on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Asif Kapadia, the recipient of the 2015 best feature documentary Oscar for “Amy,” remarked to Variety, “He leveraged his influence and platform on the world stage to advocate for those without power, without a voice, or those too fearful to speak out. In an industry known for its conservatism and aversion to risk, with a history of ostracizing individuals, he took a stand and spoke the truth. This is the essence of true artistry.”

Jesse Peretz, director of “Our Idiot Brother” and the HBO series “Girls,” and a signatory of Artists4Ceasefire, reiterated this sentiment, expressing, “In this instance, utilizing nuanced language can be perilous as our strong emotions may compel us to distort the meaning of uncomfortable words. This distortion can make it easier for us to dismiss them altogether.”

However, there were also critics of Glazer’s speech, such as Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who expressed his disapproval on social media. Greenblatt wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “It’s truly disheartening to see someone downplay the Holocaust while accepting an award for a film about it.

Glazer speaks of understanding the consequences of dehumanization, yet fails to acknowledge that it is Hamas’ dehumanization of Jews and Israelis that has led to the current conflict. Let me be clear: Israel is not appropriating anyone’s Jewish identity. It is defending the right of every Jew to exist.”

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