The Commandant’s Shadow

Tuesday, March 11 | 10:30 AM | 1 Hour 43 Minutes | English

The Commandant’s Shadow follows Hans Jürgen Höss, the 87-year-old son of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss, as he confronts his father’s horrific legacy. Decades after living in the Auschwitz villa, Hans meets Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Holocaust survivor imprisoned there, in an intimate and historic encounter. Together with their children, they explore the generational impact of guilt, trauma, and forgiveness.

Featuring excerpts from Rudolf Höss’s autobiography, the film confronts Holocaust denial and underscores the need for honest reckoning to prevent history from repeating. Directed by Daniela Völker, this powerful documentary is a timely call for compassion, understanding, and hope amid rising antisemitism.