Yes. The girl who leaves apples for prisoners in Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest is based on a real Polish girl. Glazer said he met her decades later, when she was 90, and heard how she had cycled to leave food for prisoners. The film transforms her account into nighttime thermal-image sequences; it is a dramatization, not documentary footage.
Who was the girl leaving food?
In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, director Jonathan Glazer said he met a 90-year-old woman named Alexandria. She told him that, when she was 12, she had worked with the Polish resistance and cycled to Auschwitz to leave apples for prisoners. Glazer said she died a few weeks after their conversation.
Glazer and cinematographer Łukasz Żal gave more context in a Vanity Fair production interview: she was a local, non-Jewish Polish girl who left food at construction sites at night, when she faced less risk than she would in daylight. The name Alexandria comes from Glazer’s published account; the available reporting does not establish a full name or independently document her biography, so it is best not to add a surname or life dates.
What the film changes and preserves
The real account is the basis for the character’s act of leaving food, but the film gives that story a distinct cinematic form. Glazer said the production used the woman’s bicycle and the dress worn by the actor. The nighttime sequences were filmed with a military FLIR thermal camera adapted for filmmaking, according to Vanity Fair. Rather than presenting a conventional historical reenactment, the thermal images make the girl’s movements visually separate from the film’s scenes of the Höss family’s daily life.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Glazer described her action as “that small act of resistance, the simple, almost holy act of leaving food,” calling it “the one point of light.” He also said, “She is the force for good.” Those are the director’s interpretations of the character’s place in his film; they should not be mistaken for independent historical judgments about the woman or the broader resistance effort.
Why the apples matter
The apples are not simply a symbolic invention added to the story: Glazer said the woman herself told him she had left apples for prisoners. The film uses that reported act as a quiet form of aid amid the violence taking place beyond the family’s garden wall. It gives the audience a brief view of deliberate opposition to the camp’s cruelty without turning the film’s focus away from the Höss household.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What is the music heard with the girl?
The melody associated with the nighttime sequences is “Sunbeams,” written in Auschwitz III (Monowitz) in 1943 by Joseph Wulf, a prisoner who survived the war. Glazer identified the piece in the Vanity Fair interview and said Wulf later recorded it. The Guardian corrected its original reporting on 12 March 2024 to give the composer’s name as Joseph Wulf; use that name rather than the earlier, incorrect “Thomas Wolf.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the film relates to the novel and history
Glazer began with Martin Amis’s 2014 novel The Zone of Interest, but said the filmmakers’ research led them beyond the book to Auschwitz archives and primary sources. The Los Angeles Times reported that the team researched the historical commandant Rudolf Höss and consulted Piotr Setkiewicz’s 2014 study The Private Lives of the SS in Auschwitz, as well as testimony that included accounts from Polish teenagers who worked in the Höss home and on its grounds.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
That background matters when describing the apple-leaving girl: she is not a character taken from an established memoir by Alexandria, nor is the film a documentary about her. The feature places details from her reported experience inside a fictionalized portrayal centered on historical people. Glazer has said his purpose was to make a film about the present as well as the past, asking viewers to consider their similarity to perpetrators rather than to victims.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
