The Grey Zone (2001)
“The direction of history and the meaning of our very humanity is ultimately our own to decide; to forget the past is never an option.”
Looking for a coffee table topic? Try Auschwitz. Concentration Camps. Jews. No man dares to dig deep into these subjects of conversation. It brings forth the horrors of history and the infinite possibilities of man’s most heartless capabilities. What happened in Auschwitz did not stay in Auschwitz. The horrifying shrieks of the victims carry on and will continue to haunt history eternally. So many documentaries and films have been made to stir the hearts of all. Movies such as The Pianist, Schindler’s List and The Grey Zone are just hints of the ashes communicating to the modern world today, demanding to be remembered. Acknowledging their invitation is the least we can do for them.
To be a Jew is to be a dead man, someone to be murdered. This reality of death is a frequent occurrence to the Sonderkommandos, the Jewish “special units” who would exchange forced labor to buy some time on earth. This self-willed behavior can be further explained by Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher who characterizes human existence as being toward-death therefore marked by a consciousness of mortality and limitations. The Sonderkommandos’ idea of “survival of the fittest” is serving their enemies while going against their own people. In their state, it seems like a rational choice contrary to what is usual since they all know that death is inevitable. It just comes to people in different ways; some slowly and more painful than others. No one can blame them, it’s all about survival.
Seeing countless of distorted bodies stacked like piles of laundry is not a very comforting picture. The unimaginable stench of stale air that the film could unrealistically reenact was probably unbearable. Put them all together- the unhealthy environment of ovens, naked bodies, massacres, guns, ashes and stench would obviously lead to insanity. History has a funny way of making us remember. The more blood, the more it sticks to the heads of people. These gruesome memories have a purpose besides catching the attention of the world. It channels pain and grief to more useful measures and brings forth our humaneness.
Surprisingly, no one in the film went insane. They were still able to keep their composure and attach themselves to the world. Some factors helped them cope with their distressing situation. Alcohol played a vital role of escapism for both the Germans and the Sonderkommandos. Many times, the film showed how these people drank. It was not for social drinking, nor for merrymaking, but to avoid the horrendous miseries of reality. Gulping glass after glass is a strong indication of depression. No one could blame them for craving a moment of euphoria in their bleak situation. I also noticed another form of escapism in the film. This was when Jews arrived by train and musicians who were wearing filthy clothes played beautiful, encouraging music to them. The German’s intentions were to maintain peace and order; to convince them that everything will be okay. Little do the Jews know that they were welcoming them to their death straight into the gas chambers.
The nameless fourteen-year-old Jewish girl who survived the gas chamber gave the Sonderkommandos a purpose, a reason to live, but at the same time a worrying responsibility. She overcame feelings of guilt for the men offering assistance to the Nazis and served as an affirmation that “they are not murders”, that “we don’t kill people”. She symbolized a beacon of hope to all of them. How so? Part of being human is to live for something despite the recognition of inevitable death. These people are not motivated by what is true since truth seemed depressingly ugly for their situation. And judging from history, truth is never 100% objective, it is subjective. Therefore, what motivated them are their subjective perceptions of what is true and noble. Such a belief guides the lives of millions of people today and helps shape many of their actions. This fictitious need neither be true or false but has a powerful influence on people. This is clearly seen in the film when Hoffman found the girl miraculously breathing after the gas attack. When he told his fellow Sonderkommandos about her, they all agreed to save the girl, save one life even at the expense of all their lives.
Now the doctor, who revived the girl, comes into the picture. Among the Jews, the doctor has the most number of privileges. These include access to any section of the camp, freedom to wear own clothes and able to work in a quiet environment. Occasionally, he would have the privilege of a drink or two with the sergeant. But underneath the mask of a fortunate Jew is a dying soul who has been infected by ceaseless feelings of guilt and despair. To better understand his situation, try putting yourself in his shoes. “ I am a Jew, helping Germans kill other Jews and my own people don’t even trust me anymore.” “What have a become?” “I am not a murderer, I’m only trying to save my family.” These never-ending debates lead to anything but beneficial. Such thinking only undermines parsimonious energy since there is no real solution. Try and try to rationalize but never succeed. The dreadful curse and irony of the doctor is his survival of the holocaust. His emotions under the sink will continue. These memories live on. Yes, he got his wish to live but he carried with him the grey color of life. He knew and did nothing. He probably battled daily against regret and guilt and a feeling that somehow he could redeem himself until his death. No amount of escapism will ever be enough since it is increasingly obvious and impossible that the Holocaust cannot be ignored. Suddenly, what seems fortunate is tragedy in reality.
The doctor’s fate is not so different from the German sergeant’s. They are both just doing their job by force, before they die. Moreover, I doubt that they actually believed in what they were doing, especially the German sergeant. He tried to escape his fate with alcohol. Headaches became the byproducts. His road to perdition expressed speedily as he poured all his angst to the Jews. “We will exterminate as many of you as we can before they exterminate us”, he said. He knew his sad fate. He knew how pathetic of him to leave that kind of legacy. But who can blame him? He was just following orders, to survive even for a little longer. It is only human instinct to think this way.
So what’s next? History seems to be so cruel. But if they weren’t then it would be boring and we can never learn from them. It is there for a purpose and we are all part of it, never merely a spectator to the action. We are but only human, trying to relate to storytellers of the past and understanding how things came to be. And it is our job to listen and learn from them. All these memories are personal. They connect us at a different level.
The word Auschwitz will forever send chills down my spine, what more to the Jews. I have always wondered if they still abhor Germans up to today. In general, if they have accepted them to be called “Sons and Daughters of God” as well. I’m sure about one thing though, the last thing they want to do is to hate for it is against the Talmud. Therefore the question of up to what degree can love overcome hate? enters the picture. Blind hatred is not the solution. Although one cannot blame if there are still some Jews who carry this heavy burden within them. After all, they are also human.
History shows man’s capabilities to the very extent. It shows both the humanity and inhumanity of man. Despite unavoidable circumstances and challenges we face, our freedom of choice rests in us. We should remember that whatever happens in this not so black-and-white world, we have control over it, if we choose too. We are not robots, programmed by their masters, but human beings remembering our forefathers times while pressing on to the future. The journey of life is a bumpy road towards a goal. Learning from those who have experience is only wise. To move forward is the key, it would be a crime to turn our backs on the past, but acknowledge it.
The present is the history of the future. There is a clean slate right now, waiting to be written by us, the characters. We are all part of history, the two are inseparable. No matter how insignificant you think you are, you can actively participate in history, work yourself towards an aspiring world while remembering the past. Understanding and accepting history will lead you to the only thing that matters in the end: finding peace and happiness within us. And as our spirits leave our bodies, the next generation will remember us; learn from us for a better and brighter future for them. And so the legacy is passed on...