"The Zone of Interest": Unveiling the Banality of Evil

The article discusses the film "The Zone of Interest" and its exploration of cognitive harmony, contrasting it with the concept of cognitive dissonance. The film, directed by Jonathan Glazer, is based on the real biography of Rudolf Höss, the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz. The author critiques the film's explicit portrayal of dissonance, finding it lacking in subtlety. The article delves into the psychological aspects of cognitive dissonance and cognitive harmony, drawing parallels to current events and historical contexts. It emphasizes the importance of confronting the human impulse to avoid contradiction and the need to acknowledge and understand it.