Most films about the Holocaust often focus on tales of survivors, creating a potential misconception among young audiences that survival was the norm. While not typical, this approach can make the narrative more bearable, providing a glimpse into the depressing reality of the six million Jews murdered during the Nazi's "Final Solution."
"Schindler's List" deviates from a simple message of hope, presenting an unyielding, matter-of-fact chronicle of Nazi terror. Even the survivors, whose harrowing tales are woven into the narrative by the iconic director Steven Spielberg, based on Thomas Keanally's 1982 historical fiction novel, "Schindler's Ark."
The film, shot in black and white, carries the semblance of a documentary, with scenes feeling like authentic footage. English is spoken by the principal actors, while German and Polish languages in the background contribute to the film's heady verisimilitude.
Set in Krakow during World War II, Oskar Schlindler (Liam Neeson), a Czechoslovakian businessman and Nazi Party member, acquires an enamelware factory. His relationships with German military and SS officials allow him to operate unencumbered, achieved through continuous bribery with gifts.
For those acquainted with the film, Schindler becomes a "Righteous Gentile" by providing a safe haven for the Jews of the Krakow ghetto, employing them as "essential workers" in his factory.
The film's power lies not just in Schindler's remarkable story but in a succession of shattering vignettes. For instance, as Jews are ordered into the ghetto, a woman shouts with dripping hatred, "Goodbye Jews," her voice carrying a palpable animosity that encapsulates the hostility faced by the Jews from their Polish neighbors.
Terror is felt when Schindler's right-hand man, accountant Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), forgets his identity card and ends up on a transport train headed for the gas chambers, saved only at the last moment by Schindler.
A succession of extremely sad scenes unfolds when one of Schindler's elderly workers, a one-armed man, expresses gratitude in Schindler's office, only to be later murdered by the Nazis, dashing the audience's hopes.
The antagonist SS-Untersturmfuhrer Amon Goth (Ralph Fiennes) oversees the construction of the Plaszow concentration camp, illustrating his sadistic nature through the murder of a female engineer foreman trying to warn him.
The film humanizes Goth as Schindler attempts to implant mercy, yet his vacillating affection for his Jewish housekeeper is juxtaposed with moments of brutality, revealing the complexity of his character.
The liquidation of the Plaszow ghetto stands as the most shattering sequence, with heart-rending images of children seeking refuge in horse manure. The juxtaposition of classical music and casual conversation among soldiers searching for hidden Jews intensifies the brutality.
Schindler eventually bribes Plaszow to set up a sub-camp at the factory, leading to the evacuation of children to Auschwitz in trucks, witnessed by screaming mothers.
Some critics contend that the film lacks clarity on why and when Schindler transforms into a compassionate figure. Spielberg uses color only with a little girl in a red dress, attempting to convey Schindler's emotional impact, a moment criticized for its overt message.
After bribing Goth, Schindler arranges to set up a new factory in his hometown in Czechoslovakia. The dark moment occurs when a paperwork error reroutes a train of female workers to Auschwitz, with circumstances requiring further explanation.
Ultimately, the film pays tribute to Schindler, with real-life survivors appearing at his gravestone in the film's ending. Liam Neeson's portrayal as the womanizer-turned-redeemer, Kingsley's remarkable depiction of Stern, and Fiennes' portrayal of the sinister Commandant contribute to the film's effectiveness.
"Schindler's List" succeeds through its brilliant and understated approach, devoid of heavy-handed preaching. The indelible images within the film speak for themselves, leaving a lasting impact. An added bonus is the Spielberg Shoah Foundation, housing a database of thousands of Holocaust eyewitness testimonies.
"Schindler's List" deviates from a simple message of hope, presenting an unyielding, matter-of-fact chronicle of Nazi terror. Even the survivors, whose harrowing tales are woven into the narrative by the iconic director Steven Spielberg, based on Thomas Keanally's 1982 historical fiction novel, "Schindler's Ark."
The film, shot in black and white, carries the semblance of a documentary, with scenes feeling like authentic footage. English is spoken by the principal actors, while German and Polish languages in the background contribute to the film's heady verisimilitude.
Set in Krakow during World War II, Oskar Schlindler (Liam Neeson), a Czechoslovakian businessman and Nazi Party member, acquires an enamelware factory. His relationships with German military and SS officials allow him to operate unencumbered, achieved through continuous bribery with gifts.
For those acquainted with the film, Schindler becomes a "Righteous Gentile" by providing a safe haven for the Jews of the Krakow ghetto, employing them as "essential workers" in his factory.
The film's power lies not just in Schindler's remarkable story but in a succession of shattering vignettes. For instance, as Jews are ordered into the ghetto, a woman shouts with dripping hatred, "Goodbye Jews," her voice carrying a palpable animosity that encapsulates the hostility faced by the Jews from their Polish neighbors.
Terror is felt when Schindler's right-hand man, accountant Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), forgets his identity card and ends up on a transport train headed for the gas chambers, saved only at the last moment by Schindler.
A succession of extremely sad scenes unfolds when one of Schindler's elderly workers, a one-armed man, expresses gratitude in Schindler's office, only to be later murdered by the Nazis, dashing the audience's hopes.
The antagonist SS-Untersturmfuhrer Amon Goth (Ralph Fiennes) oversees the construction of the Plaszow concentration camp, illustrating his sadistic nature through the murder of a female engineer foreman trying to warn him.
The film humanizes Goth as Schindler attempts to implant mercy, yet his vacillating affection for his Jewish housekeeper is juxtaposed with moments of brutality, revealing the complexity of his character.
The liquidation of the Plaszow ghetto stands as the most shattering sequence, with heart-rending images of children seeking refuge in horse manure. The juxtaposition of classical music and casual conversation among soldiers searching for hidden Jews intensifies the brutality.
Schindler eventually bribes Plaszow to set up a sub-camp at the factory, leading to the evacuation of children to Auschwitz in trucks, witnessed by screaming mothers.
Some critics contend that the film lacks clarity on why and when Schindler transforms into a compassionate figure. Spielberg uses color only with a little girl in a red dress, attempting to convey Schindler's emotional impact, a moment criticized for its overt message.
After bribing Goth, Schindler arranges to set up a new factory in his hometown in Czechoslovakia. The dark moment occurs when a paperwork error reroutes a train of female workers to Auschwitz, with circumstances requiring further explanation.
Ultimately, the film pays tribute to Schindler, with real-life survivors appearing at his gravestone in the film's ending. Liam Neeson's portrayal as the womanizer-turned-redeemer, Kingsley's remarkable depiction of Stern, and Fiennes' portrayal of the sinister Commandant contribute to the film's effectiveness.
"Schindler's List" succeeds through its brilliant and understated approach, devoid of heavy-handed preaching. The indelible images within the film speak for themselves, leaving a lasting impact. An added bonus is the Spielberg Shoah Foundation, housing a database of thousands of Holocaust eyewitness testimonies.