A historical film by Steven Spielberg, The Schindler’s list, depicts the Holocaust focusing on a man who saved lives, Oskar Schindler. Oskar Schindler, an industrialist from Czechoslovakia, realizes that a war in Europe would be a great time to make money. The movie begins with Jews being forced to leave their homes, properties, and career and to live in overcrowded ghettos. It then shows us what Schindler was doing during that time. He was sitting on a fine table at a fancy nightclub in the city of Krakow occupied by the Nazi. As he drank alone, he scanned the clientele and slowly casts his eyes on the German officers. He plied them with food and wine which transformed a separate tabled nightclub into one party with a song for the Nazi Officials. He had made a connection between the Nazis and the Jews as he met Itzhs Stern, an accountant and a Jew, who helped him with the business. Itzhak Stern is an official of Krakow's Judenrat, a Jewish Council, who has contacts with the Jewish business community and the black marketers inside the Ghetto. The Jewish businessmen lend Schindler the money for the factory in return for a small share of products produced. Opening the factory, Schindler pleases the Nazis and enjoys his newfound wealth and status as "Herr Direktor", while Stern handles all the administration. Schindler hires Jewish Poles instead of Catholic Poles because they cost less almost getting nothing for it is paid to the SS). Workers in Schindler's factory are allowed outside the ghetto, and Stern falsifies documents to ensure that as many people as possible are deemed "essential" to the German war effort, which saves them from being transported to concentration camps, or being killed. Amon Goeth is then introduced, a man in charge of the camp where workers are housed. He was pure evil as he randomly kills people without any reason just to show his power. Schindler had to bribe him to stay in business with him. Such cruelty done by Amon Goeth caused Schindler’s change from an opportunistic man to a humanitarian.
The story revolved around Oskar Schindler which was about power and forgiveness which is obvious on the words spoken by Amon Goeth, “I pardon you.” The amount of surprise and suspense were balance as well. Liam Neeson, as Oskar Schindler, was effective in portraying a womanizing businessman. He was such a flexible actor as he built a combination of self-confidence, indecision, and doubt. Even with the change from being a profiteer to a savior. Ben Kingsley, as Itzhak Stern, did a great as Schindler’s sidekick. He had also given an image of an adviser who gives implied messages to Schindler like the part when he said, “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” Ralph Fiennes, as Amon Goeth, brilliantly portrayed his role well. He had intensely depicted an insane man who’s secretly in love with a Jew. We see in him a picture of a sad man with great pride. The setting was of course very appropriate especially for such story. The color used helped in the suspension of disbelief. It had effectively given the image of how the life would’ve seemed like during those times. The use of sex and music were also okay. It was appropriate for it was simply used to lift the mood, it was not too much nor too less. American films are known to be plot oriented but Steven Spielberg had shown a different style which is character oriented.
The symbolisms of the films were quite visible but hard to decipher. One of which is the little girl in red. She symbolizes Schindler’s change; A change from being a selfish profiteer to a caring savior. Another is the candle lit during the beginning and the end of the film which symbolizes a little glimmer of hope. Schindler himself is a symbol. He showed us that not all Germans during those times were as ‘evil’ as the others. The Factory owned by Schindler symbolizes the shelter of the Jews which also served as their protection. The List itself symbolized the lives of the Jews saved from the wrath of the Nazis. It may merely be pieces of papers but those papers save a thousand lives.
Over all, the movie gave the people the truth behind the horrors of the holocaust. My mother told me that I was lucky to have watched the whole film for during their time, the movie was restricted and parts were cut. This film is highly recommended for everyone to see. This would let them appreciate the life that they have just as it did to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment