Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brutal Auschwitz drama about devastating cost for survival.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Grey Zone
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Inspired by true events, THE GREY ZONE tells the story of a "Special Unit" of Hungarian Jewish prisoners tasked with helping to kill and dispose of fellow inmates at Auschwitz concentration camp as they try to find a way to escape their own inevitable fate.
Is It Any Good?
With its long sections of talking, this historical drama fails to shake the feeling that it is better suited for its original stage format. The Grey Zone is based on a play by writer-director Tim Blake Nelson, and while the cinematic violence is upsetting, it doesn't successfully convey the devastating horror of the true-life events it depicts. The story of the Sonderkommando or "Special Units" is a fascinating study of humanity during a dark period of history and deserves to be told. 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. The gas chamber and crematorium scenes are disturbing but feel sanitized, and a child's voice-over about their own ashes is well meaning but tries to add magic and light in a place where no light exists.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the actions of the members of the Sonderkommando or "Special Units" as depicted in The Grey Zone. Do you think they had a choice? What would you have done in their situation? Is there a "right" choice when facing such impossible circumstances? How to talk with kids about violence, crime, war, and tragedy.
Discuss the film's violence. Did it feel realistic? Did the fact that it was based on real events make it even more impactful? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
What did you know of the Holocaust before the film? Did this help you to understand more about what happened to Jewish people during this time?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 18, 2002
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 2003
- Cast : Harvey Keitel , David Arquette , Allan Corduner
- Director : Tim Blake Nelson
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong holocaust violence, nudity and language
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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