After the success of 2023’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ which told the story of Rudolf Höss, HBO debuted the trailer for a documentary telling the story of Höss’ son, Jurgen Höss.

‘The Commandant’s Shadow’ is directed by Daniela Völker and 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.

Release Date

Directed by Daniela Völker, ‘The Commandant’s Shadow’ debuts on HBO July 18, 2024 (9:00-10:50 p.m. ET/PT) and will be available to stream on MAX the following day.

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(R)-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.

Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for ‘The Commandant’s Shadow’.