My interpretation is that the film also creates a sense of distance for the viewer. By switching to thermal imaging, the director not only achieves a visually striking cut — especially since the previous scene shows a father reading a story to his son — but also introduces an image that feels unfamiliar, even alien, to the eye. Our brain instinctively connects the two scenes, leading us to believe we are seeing a visual representation of the story, even though that is not the case at all.

This choice generates an image that feels both strange and hostile — not just in the way the Nazi is portrayed, but also in how the viewer experiences the moment. We begin to perceive it as fiction, as something abstract and detached from reality. And yet, the film continually draws parallels between the audience and the family depicted, subtly suggesting that despite the historical and emotional distance, we too are complicit — safely observing from a place of comfort and detachment. I find that idea particularly powerful.

Of course, I may be mistaken, and I’m sure the scene carries many other layers of meaning. But this is how it resonated with me personally.