Film Series: Holocaust in Film – Memory, Representation, and Education

Join us for a two-part film series exploring how cinema helps us understand and teach the Holocaust. This program will feature screenings of The Zone of Interest on April 8 and The Commandant’s Shadow on April 12. Following the screening of The Commandant’s Shadow, discussion will be led by Dr. Kay McAdams of York College of Pennsylvania.

Dr. McAdams will explore how Holocaust history is represented on screen and why these two recent films are especially powerful tools for Holocaust education. Drawing from her experience teaching at the college level, she will discuss how she incorporates film into the classroom to help students grapple with difficult histories, ethical questions, and the human dimensions of the Holocaust.

The Zone of Interest – Wednesday, April 8 at 7 PM at RC Theaters, Queensgate

This Academy Award–winning film follows the daily life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his family as they live in a comfortable home just beyond the walls of the concentration camp. Rather than depicting violence directly, the film focuses on the unsettling normalcy of family life alongside unimaginable atrocity, raising profound questions about complicity, denial, and moral responsibility.

This event is free, and seats are limited. Pre-registration is required and can be completed here.

Questions about this event? Contact Adriel Resh, aresh@yorkjcc.org.