The Commandant's Shadow

His father murdered more than a million Jews at Auschwitz. She survived the camp against all odds. 80 years later, they come face to face.

While Hans Jurgen Höss enjoyed a happy childhood in the family villa at Auschwitz, Jewish prisoner Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was trying 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. This is the first time the descendant of a major war criminal meets a survivor in such a private and intimate setting, Anita’s London living room. Together with their children, Kai Höss and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, the four protagonists explore their very different hereditary burdens.

• Release date
• May 29, 2024
• Runtime
• 103 min
• Genres
• Documentary, History, War
• Director
• Daniela Völker

Cast

H

Hans-Jürgen Höss Self

K

Kai Höss Self Anita Lasker-Wallfisch Self

M

Maya Lasker-Wallfisch Self

R

Rudolf Höss Self (archive footage) Adolf Hitler Self (archive footage)