Los Angeles, California – The executive producer of “The Zone of Interest,” Danny Cohen, broke his silence on director Jonathan Glazer’s controversial Oscars speech, expressing his disagreement. Glazer, while accepting the Academy Award for best international film, sparked outrage by drawing parallels between his Holocaust film and the conflict in Gaza.
Cohen, speaking on the Unholy podcast, revealed that he has received feedback from members of the Jewish community who found the film essential for Holocaust education but were upset by its association with the current events in Gaza. He emphasized his fundamental disagreement with Glazer’s remarks, attributing the responsibility for the ongoing war to Hamas, a terrorist organization.
The remarks made by Glazer resulted in mixed reactions within the Jewish community, with Holocaust survivors writing open letters to refute his claims. However, there were also voices of support, such as Stefanie Fox from the Jewish Voice for Peace organization, who backed Glazer’s call for ceasefire in Gaza.
When asked about Glazer’s speech planning, Cohen mentioned that the director had discussed it with producer James Wilson, but not with the executive producer Len Blavatnik. Cohen expressed disappointment that the success of the film had been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Glazer’s comments.
Despite the backlash, Cohen highlighted the significance of the film in raising awareness about the Holocaust, which was the driving force behind the decision to finance the project. He emphasized that the ultimate goal was to contribute to Holocaust education and that the focus should remain on the impact of the film itself.
In conclusion, Cohen reiterated his pride in the film’s achievements and expressed hope that the conversation would shift towards the artistic merits of the project rather than the controversial speech. He emphasized the importance of honoring the memory of the Holocaust through meaningful storytelling and education.