THE COMMANDANT’S SHADOW Debuts July 18 On HBO And Max
Warner Bros. Pictures in association with HBO Documentary Films presents THE COMMANDANT’S SHADOW, directed by Daniela Völker, debuting THURSDAY, JULY 18 (9:00-10:50 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Synopsis: THE COMMANDANT’S SHADOW follows Hans Jürgen Höss, the 87-year-old son of Rudolf Höss, as he faces his father’s terrible legacy for the first time. His father was the camp commandant of Auschwitz and masterminded the murder of over a million Jews. The life of Höss and his family was recently fictionalized in the Academy Award®-winning film “The Zone of Interest.” Now, THE COMMANDANT’S SHADOW tells the story of some of the real people who lived on the other side of the wall at Höss’s concentration camp.
While Hans Jürgen Höss enjoyed a happy childhood playing with many toys in the family villa at Auschwitz, Jewish cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was playing for her life to survive the notorious concentration camp. At the heart of this film is the historic and inspiring moment, eight decades later, when the two come face-to-face – the son of a major war criminal meeting a survivor in the intimate setting of Anita’s London living room. Together with their children, Kai Höss and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, the four protagonists explore their very different hereditary burdens.
The film features original excerpts of Rudolf Höss’ long-forgotten autobiography, written shortly before his execution, while exploring the relationships of a mother and her daughter, a father and his son, and the long shadows cast by the crimes that impact generations. It raises questions about love, guilt, and forgiveness, but is ultimately a story of hope, acceptance, and compassion.
Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures in association with HBO Documentary Films; a Snowstorm Productions presentation; a Creators Inc. production in association with New Mandate Films; a film by Daniela Völker; written, produced, and directed by Daniela Völker; produced by Gloria Abramoff with executive producer Wendy Robbins. Neil Blair, Jonathan Blair, Matti Leshem, Joel Greenberg, Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen, Sajan Raj Kurup, Jani Guest, and Jamie Jessop also serve as executive producers.
