Schindler's List (1993)

Genre

Biography | Drama | History

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz, Malgorzata Gebel, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Jerzy Nowak, Norbert Weisser, Anna Mucha, Piotr Polk, Rami Heuberger, Ezra Dagan, Hans-Jörg Assmann, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Daniel Del Ponte, Oliwia Dabrowska

Storyline

In Poland during World War II, German businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Opinion

It's that day of the year when the horrors of the Holocaust are remembered, and among all the films on this topic, I couldn't do otherwise than to choose the best and most powerful film about the tragedy of Jewish people.

A devastating, magnificent and touching work of art, "Schindler's List" is the story of a courageous man trying to respond to the Nazi madness as well as a lesson to everybody.

Even though it is based on events that actually happened, the film could have easily been nothing more than just a historical drama. However, the film manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to the uniqueness of the story, but especially the way the story was told. It is the style of this work of art that gives the film that extra edge, and makes it capable of evoking profound emotions while not ruling out scenes that try in every way to bring the audience to tears.

For that very reason, the film offers a moment to reflect deeply about what one rich man - both of money and heart - can do to this world, a man who makes account of the evil that surrounds him and that belong to his world, and decides not to be a partner in crime, risking his own life.

Janusz Kaminski's black and white cinematography is spectacular. Some moments, such as the attack in the Krakow ghetto and some other moments in the camp, are extraordinarily captured, and when it comes to Auschwitz, a chimney is enough to portray that hell. Then there is purely scenic scene: a young girl who escapes the massacre of the ghetto but then seen dead among other corpses recognizable thanks to her red coat that clearly stands out in the black and white photography.

Liam Neeson gives the performance of his lifetime as Oskar Schindler, portrayed with irresistible charm and gradually changing as the film progresses. He is so incredible, you'll soon forget he is Neeson. Ralph Fiennes brilliantly portrays Amon Goeth, a true, heartless, sadistic monster - sadly this monster actually existed. Ben Kingsley also gives an excellent performance as Schindler's accountant, Itzhak Stern. 

Those accents though. I don't understand why Spielberg opted to have the character speak English with a German accent. A pathetic accent to be honest. 

"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."