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The Grey Zone

Play trailer Poster for The Grey Zone R 2002 1h 48m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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70% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Based on actual events, "The Grey Zone" is the staggeringly powerful story of the Auschwitz's twelfth Sonderkommando -- one of the thirteen consecutive "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. From inside the working organs of the infamous Auschwitz death camp, this film asks to what terrible lengths we are willing to go to save our own lives.
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The Grey Zone

The Grey Zone

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Critics Consensus

A grim and devastating tale of the Holocaust.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 06/19/2003
3/4
They are dark, thoroughly uncompromising works of a filmmaker completely fearless to take an audience into dank recesses of the human condition. Go to Full Review
Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 11/18/2002
2.5/5
If stars could be awarded on the basis of good intentions, The Grey Zone should be king of the galaxy. Unfortunately, it lands on earth with something of a thud. Go to Full Review
Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle 11/15/2002
B+
Even in its darkest moments, a heartening defiance underlies gut-wrenching calamity. Go to Full Review
Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media Apr 8
But the film's good intentions suffer under the Hollywood production and its cast of famous faces, which includes David Arquette, Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies 05/06/2024
4.5/5
The Grey Zone may be a forgotten film but it is essential viewing as far as Holocaust movies are concerned. Go to Full Review
Joel Siegel Good Morning America 01/04/2018
B+
If they gave an Oscar for best ensemble acting, and I think they should, The Grey Zone would get my vote. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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kevin o Jun 24 ...not one moment that wasn t riveting. Acting, direction and everthing else were perfect. The way to tell a horrible story. See more Alain E @AlainE 12/02/2024 This is not equivalent of the Zone of Interest from the prisoners perspective. Totally ridiculous despite the good actors involved. See more 01/24/2022 The fact that it is a true, yet seldom heard, account of the holocaust makes it quite compelling throughout. I don't think the cinematography is great, in particular the angles, but it's not the worst to look at. Interesting course of events. Yet another grim ending to a holocaust movie. See more delysid d 12/25/2018 how awful, a Hollywood Soap Opera set in the holocaust~!! If you think this is good, theres a much better film on the subject you should watch - its called SHOAH See more 02/21/2017 Pretty good movie of what some of the Jews wen t through to try to stay a live longer in the camp. See more greg r 07/31/2016 Based almost exactly on a surviving doctor from Auschwitz. Read the book 'Auschwitz' first and enjoy the movie even more. See more Read all reviews
The Grey Zone

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on actual events, "The Grey Zone" is the staggeringly powerful story of the Auschwitz's twelfth Sonderkommando -- one of the thirteen consecutive "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. From inside the working organs of the infamous Auschwitz death camp, this film asks to what terrible lengths we are willing to go to save our own lives.
Director
Tim Blake Nelson
Producer
Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Tim Blake Nelson, Avi Lerner, Danny Lerner
Screenwriter
Tim Blake Nelson, Tim Blake Nelson, Miklos Nyiszli
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Goatsingers, Millennium Films, Killer Films
Rating
R (Strong Holocaust Violence|Nudity|Language)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 2, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$507.4K
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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