The legacy of Spielberg and Schindler's list
Steven Spielberg is a director with a vision. People mostly resonate him for Jurassic Park and sci-fi subjects. But here is a filmmaker who has covered so many topics in his 49-year-old career. As he is approaching 50 years of filmmaking, here are some thoughts on the 1993 Oscar winner Schindler's List.
The movie is based on the novel Schindler's Ark by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. Schindler's List is all about a German industrialist Oscar Schindler who saved the life of 1,100 Jewish refugees by employing them and taking care of their lives at the peak of the Second World War. The 3-hour long film captures the shocking reality of the war, the holocaust and suffering of the people. It also takes us through the journey of Schindler who ended up as a transformed human being after witnessing the brutalities of the German troops. Liam Nelson who played the main character delivered a memorable performance which went on to win the Oscars. Ralph Fiennes, playing SS officer Amon Goth and Gandhi actor Ben Kingsley essaying Schindler's Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern played their roles to perfection.
Why this is a great film?
When we look at films which portrayed The Holocaust, chances are high that we may not see a film as good as Schindler. It depicted the situation in a humane way. Take for example The Girl in the Red Coat sequence or Goth's failed attempt to be a 'forgiven man' who pardons people. The girl signifies helplessness while Goth's character is a representation of the dangerous Nazi pride.
There are several disturbing footages throughout the film that several viewers may close their eyes. But it is evident that the idea is not to terrify people. It is to show us what happened during the war. No wonder, Stanley Kubrick and Roman Polansky, two established filmmakers chose not to make Jewish films on the Second World War because Spielberg covered them all!
Is it relevant in present times?
It's been 27 years since the film has released. A lot has been talked about the violin soundtrack, acting, cultural significance of the film and much more. Does that make it non-relevant now? Of course not. Schindler was a failed businessman who looked at the safety of his workers. After the war, he was left with no money. It is said that he and wife were helped by his former employees when he was bankrupt. Schindler was just their boss. More than that, as the film testifies, 'generations were alive because of what he did.' Such a human being deserves a mention in the history books.
Schindler and his wife were the only Nazi members who received 'Good Nazi' tagline from the Jewish community which signifies their legacy. The depiction of racial hatred against Jews in the film can make any sensible person question it. An army officer while answering Schindler says, "The time of hating Jews is gone. It is our policy now". Do we see such policies taking shape even now? The question is open for us to introspect.
A personal film
Spielberg has made a huge volume of work and there are movies like Saving Private Ryan, Munich that discuss the Second World War. But what differentiates this film from others is its narrative structure. The movie, shot in black and white, except two portions, follows a documentary style of filming with key attention to detailing. The last 20 minutes is really special for the emotion it conveys and high chances that you will shed a drop or two tears. This film, through the world of Schindler, narrates a gory past and presents a grim reminder on what not to do in the future.
Spielberg on Schindler's list
"I think there's even more at stake then there was back then. When collective hate organizes and gets industrialized, then genocide follows. We have to take it more seriously today than I think we have had to take it in a generation. Schindler still tops all my other achievements. I don't think I'll ever do anything as important. So this, for me, is something that I will always be proudest of."
A memorable scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va8zjTPsJrI
The movie is based on the novel Schindler's Ark by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. Schindler's List is all about a German industrialist Oscar Schindler who saved the life of 1,100 Jewish refugees by employing them and taking care of their lives at the peak of the Second World War. The 3-hour long film captures the shocking reality of the war, the holocaust and suffering of the people. It also takes us through the journey of Schindler who ended up as a transformed human being after witnessing the brutalities of the German troops. Liam Nelson who played the main character delivered a memorable performance which went on to win the Oscars. Ralph Fiennes, playing SS officer Amon Goth and Gandhi actor Ben Kingsley essaying Schindler's Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern played their roles to perfection.
Why this is a great film?
When we look at films which portrayed The Holocaust, chances are high that we may not see a film as good as Schindler. It depicted the situation in a humane way. Take for example The Girl in the Red Coat sequence or Goth's failed attempt to be a 'forgiven man' who pardons people. The girl signifies helplessness while Goth's character is a representation of the dangerous Nazi pride.
There are several disturbing footages throughout the film that several viewers may close their eyes. But it is evident that the idea is not to terrify people. It is to show us what happened during the war. No wonder, Stanley Kubrick and Roman Polansky, two established filmmakers chose not to make Jewish films on the Second World War because Spielberg covered them all!
Is it relevant in present times?
It's been 27 years since the film has released. A lot has been talked about the violin soundtrack, acting, cultural significance of the film and much more. Does that make it non-relevant now? Of course not. Schindler was a failed businessman who looked at the safety of his workers. After the war, he was left with no money. It is said that he and wife were helped by his former employees when he was bankrupt. Schindler was just their boss. More than that, as the film testifies, 'generations were alive because of what he did.' Such a human being deserves a mention in the history books.
Schindler and his wife were the only Nazi members who received 'Good Nazi' tagline from the Jewish community which signifies their legacy. The depiction of racial hatred against Jews in the film can make any sensible person question it. An army officer while answering Schindler says, "The time of hating Jews is gone. It is our policy now". Do we see such policies taking shape even now? The question is open for us to introspect.
A personal film
Spielberg has made a huge volume of work and there are movies like Saving Private Ryan, Munich that discuss the Second World War. But what differentiates this film from others is its narrative structure. The movie, shot in black and white, except two portions, follows a documentary style of filming with key attention to detailing. The last 20 minutes is really special for the emotion it conveys and high chances that you will shed a drop or two tears. This film, through the world of Schindler, narrates a gory past and presents a grim reminder on what not to do in the future.
Spielberg on Schindler's list
"I think there's even more at stake then there was back then. When collective hate organizes and gets industrialized, then genocide follows. We have to take it more seriously today than I think we have had to take it in a generation. Schindler still tops all my other achievements. I don't think I'll ever do anything as important. So this, for me, is something that I will always be proudest of."
A memorable scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va8zjTPsJrI
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| Movie poster |
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| Spielberg (extreme left) with Ben Kingsley and Liam Nelson. Photo: Google |
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