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The Grey Zone (2001)

TV_MA  108 min  -  Drama | War   -  30 November 2001 (Spain)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 5,445 users   Metascore: 58/100 
Reviews: 102 user | 49 critic | 27 from Metacritic.com

A Nazi doctor, along with the Sonderkomando, Jews who are forced to work in the crematoria of Auschwitz against their fellow Jews, find themselves in a moral grey zone.

Director:

Tim Blake Nelson

Writers:

Miklos Nyiszli (book), Tim Blake Nelson (play), and 1 more credit »
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1 win & 3 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette ...
Hoffman
Velizar Binev ...
Moll
David Chandler David Chandler ...
Max Rosenthal
Michael Stuhlbarg ...
Cohen
George Zlatarev George Zlatarev ...
Lowy (as Georgy Zlatarev)
Dimitar Ivanov Dimitar Ivanov ...
Old Man
Daniel Benzali Daniel Benzali ...
Simon Schlermer
Allan Corduner Allan Corduner ...
Dr. Miklos Nyiszli
Steve Buscemi ...
'Hesch' Abramowics
Harvey Keitel ...
SS-Oberscharfuhrer Eric Muhsfeldt
Henry Stram Henry Stram ...
Kamelia Grigorova Kamelia Grigorova ...
Girl
Lisa Benavides Lisa Benavides ...
Anja
Shirly Brener ...
Inmate
Mira Sorvino ...
Dina
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Storyline

The true story of Dr. Miklos Nyiszli, a Hungarian Jew chosen by Josef Mengele to be the head pathologist at Auschwitz. Nyiszli was one of Auschwitz's Sonderkommandos - Special Squads of Jewish prisoners placed by the Nazis in the excruciating moral dilemma of helping to exterminate fellow Jews in exchange for a few more months of life. Together, the Sonderkommandos struggled to organize the only armed revolt that would ever take place at Auschwitz. As the rebellion is about to commence, a group from the unit discovers a 14-year-old girl who has miraculously survived a gassing. A catalyst for their desperate attempt at personal redemption, the men become obsessed with saving this one child, even if doing so endangers the uprising which could save thousands. To what terrible lengths are we willing to go to save our own lives, and what in turn would we sacrifice to save the lives of others? Written by Sujit R. Varma  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Sonderkommando | Jew | Auschwitz | Prisoner | Jewish  | See more »

Taglines:

The Story You Haven't Seen

Genres:

Drama | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong holocaust violence, nudity and language See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Release Date:

(Spain) See more »

Also Known As:

A szürke zóna See more »

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$24,526 (USA) (20 October 2002) (8 Screens)

Gross:

$507,443 (USA) (15 December 2002)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeff Danna who is the credited composer did not score the movie. There is no score in the actual film but he did write music for the title and end credit sequences. He also arranged a classical piece used as source music. See more »

Goofs

Revealing mistakes: When the Jews are ushered from the changing rooms to the "Shower" a women with a bikini top is visible for a moment in the background. See more »

Quotes

Girl: After the revolt, half the ovens remain, and we are carried to them together. I catch fire, quickly. The first part of me rises, in dense smoke, that mingles with the smoke of others. Then there are the bones, which settle in ash, and these are swept up to be carried to the river. And last, bits of our dust, that simply float there, in air, around the working of the new group...
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Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Roses from the South, Opus 388"
(1880)
Composed by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauss)
Orchestrated and arranged by Jeff Danna and Andrew Lockington
Performed and conducted by members of the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra See more »