World War II’s enduring grip on cinema, from Oppenheimer to Auschwitz: Max Hastings

Amid Oscar weekend, the prevalence of acclaimed 2023 films revisiting World War II-era stories from nine decades ago raises intriguing questions about Hollywood's persistent fascination. Notably, Jonathan Glazer's "Zone of Interest" offers a unique perspective on Auschwitz's commandant, challenging conventional narratives. Despite the dominance of Oppenheimer-themed period films, reflections on the moral shift from glorified Westerns to the unquestionable evil of Nazi atrocities reveal a society's evolving consciousness. As we applaud cinematic achievements, the enduring lessons from World War II continue to shape our understanding of good and evil.

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By Max Hastings

This Oscar weekend, consider how weird it is that many of the most garlanded movies released in 2023 were inspired by events nine decades ago. With all of history to choose from, the six years of World War II continue to exercise a towering influence upon Hollywood's imaginations. The conflagration's impact is especially great upon Western audiences, but I have also seen some Chinese WWII epics, from which the Japanese don't come out too well.

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