Released: February 1994
Director: Steven Spielberg
Rated R
Run Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Genre: Historical Drama
Cast:
Liam Neeson: Oskar Schindler
Ralph Fiennes: Amon Goeth
Ben Kingsley: Itzhak Stern
Caroline Goodall: Emilie Schindler
Jonathan Sagall: Poldek Pfefferberg
Embeth Davidtz: Helen Hirsch
I’ve always believed that certain movies could only be made by certain directors. Only Ridley Scott could’ve directed Alien or Gladiator. Only James Cameron could’ve directed Avatar or The Terminator, and only Stanley Kubrick could’ve directed 2001: A Space Odyssey. That’s not to say that these directors are bad. Far from it, but certain stories and ideas might be better suited for somebody like Steven Spielberg rather than James Cameron to tell. The impact of the story might be very different for what was initially intended. With Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg proved that he was the right person to make this movie, despite some of his earlier hesitations that he didn’t know how. I’ll be honest with you: I never saw Schindler’s List before last night. As someone who has never really shied away from controversial or hard-hitting movies, it seems strange that I had been skipping Schindler’s List for years. I’m fascinated with that period in history, yet I’ve found myself simultaneously intrigued by Spielberg’s movie, but also afraid of it in some bizarre way. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t emotionally ready to watch a movie set during the Holocaust.
Normally, this is point in my reviews where I would discuss the story that the movie is trying to tell. Basically, the movie is about Oskar Schindler, an industrialist who would end up saving 1,100 Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust. Instead of discussing the story, though, I want to talk about why a movie like Schindler’s List is so important. There are other movies out there that deal with the Holocaust, but not with the same honesty and intelligence that Steven Spielberg brings to the stage. While MOST educated people know that the Holocaust was one of the worst atrocities ever committed, most people are unaware that even during one of the darkest chapters in human history, there were elements of resistance by the Jews and attempts from other parties to try and save as many of these people as they could. Schindler’s List shines the light on particular man who spent his entire fortune trying to save as many people as he could. This movie is important, because not only does it not pull any punches when it comes to the brutality of the Nazis and their regime, but it also shows that even in the darkest of hours, there can be a glimmer of courage and hope. One could say that the 1,100 people saved was a paltry number compared to the 6 million that were systematically murdered. But for that group of people that survived, Schindler was a hero, even if he didn’t consider himself one. That’s one of the points that this movie was trying to make: One person CAN make a difference. Schindler’s List is important, because this really happened. While certain details may have been altered for dramatic purposes, what you see is what actually happened. These were real people going through Hell itself, yet the atrocities didn’t stop these people from giving up.
The acting in this film is some of the best that I’ve ever seen. Liam Neeson is incredible as Oskar Schindler. He brings the right amount of charm to the role that requires the character to be manipulative, scheming, and at times, greedy. But you see him change over the course of the film when he witnesses a ghetto being “liquidated.” But you also got to see other sides to the character. His charisma also allowed to be a bit of a ladies man, as you see in scene when he’s trying to hire a secretary. It’s really one of the funniest moments in an other-wise serious film. But the best moments come when he’s dealing with Ralph Fiennes’ Amon Goeth, the head of the forced labor camp. There’s a reason why Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were nominated for Academy Awards. Ralph Fiennes is also charismatic in the film, but his character uses that in a very different way. It’s a very interesting contrast between two powerful men, yet Neeson still managed to manipulate Goeth into him take 1,100 people to a different location. Make no mistake about it, Amon Goeth was total sociopath in real-life, and apparently even worse than how he was portrayed in the movie, but Fiennes does an outstanding job bringing such a despicable human being to life. Ben Kingsley is also incredible as Itzhak Stern, the Jewish accountant that works for Schindler. It’s not just the talent in front of the camera that’s extraordinary.
If there’s a name for someone behind-the-scenes that you should remember, besides that of Steven Spielberg, it’s Janusz Kaminski, the Director of Photography. This guy is brilliant for his cinematography. Most of the film is shot in black-and-white, which adds to the despairing and oppressive feel of the film, but he adds some color here and there for a reason. For instant, the little girl with the red jacket stands out from amongst the crowd? That’s for a reason. Not only does she catch the eye of Schindler, but it draws the attention of the audience. There are multiple interpretations for what that means, but the image lingers on long after the movie ends. Because the film is mostly black-and-white, it allows for certain manipulation of lights and shadows which can heighten or lessen the atmosphere of a particular scene. The entire film looks like a history book come to life. But that kind of cinematography also enhances the more horrific parts of the movie. It makes the more bloody and violent moments stand out even more. I don’t think the movie would have worked as well if it had been shot in full color. It might have come across as more cartoonish. As it is, it has a more documentary-style feeling throughout the film, and it’s all the better for it. It makes it more realistic and haunting when something terrible happens. Spielberg and Kaminski would work together on more films like Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds, and Lincoln.
Steven Spielberg knew, as a director, that his responsibility for telling a story like this was to get it right. That means not pulling any punches when it comes to the horrors of the Holocaust. He doesn’t show everything that happened, but he shows enough of the brutality to drive the reality home. This period in history was incredibly brutal and violent. There are some truly haunting moments in the film. The violence in particular isn’t over-the-top, but it is shocking in not just it’s callousness, but the casual way that the Nazis just kill people and move on about their day. Spielberg, knew, along with the rest of the crew, that they were heading into some incredibly dark territory, but it’s a necessary part of telling this story. In fact, there were stories about Spielberg and company having to watch episodes of Seinfeld and listen to stand-up comedy from Robin Williams to decompress and unwind from an incredibly exhausting and downbeat production. When you’re making a movie about the Holocaust, you have to be truthful about what took place. You can’t sugarcoat it and you can’t sweep it under the rug.
Schindler’s List would go on to win seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director(Steven Spielberg), Best Cinematography(Janusz Kaminsky), and Best Music, Original Score(John Williams). There’s a reason for that. Everything about this film is top-notch. The story is compelling. It’s heart-wrenching, but at the same time there are glimmers of hope and human dignity found throughout the entire film. The acting is among some of the finest that I’ve ever seen in a film, and the pacing is perfect. For a movie that runs 3 hours and 15 minutes, it doesn’t feel that long, because you get invested in the story and the events of what took place. THAT’S what made Steven Spielberg the perfect guy to direct this movie. Is Schindler’s List for everybody? No. It’s hard to sit through and some of the imagery can be too much for some people. But I would still recommend this movie without hesitation. It’s one of the most important movies ever made, especially about an event that took place less than a century ago. So, keep that in mind if you decide to watch this movie. Personally, I wouldn’t go right out and immediately watch it again, but I will probably return to it from time to time.