Schindler's List movie poster from IMDb
Steven Spielberg is an all-rounded director. And this movie is a proof of his craftsmanship.
If not for this movie, I would have never thought that he is not only a master in making sci-fi and fantasy movies, but he also has a gift of turning a very important historical event into an impactful documentary. The three hour-length film really gave him the time he needed to bring out the horrors of World War II from the Jewish perspective, and the perspective of the man who risked his own life to save a thousand of Jews, Oskar Schindler.
Indeed, this movie is talking about a serious subject that shook the world to its core more than half a century ago, but Spielberg has made the movie in such a way that does not seem too lighthearted and dramatic that would make the war look unreal, but also not too dry and monotonous like a typical documentary through narration. He has somehow merged the two ends of the spectrum to create a film with a the right balance of drama and narrative of the victims of World War II. To start off, Spielberg managed to bring out the cunning nature of Schindler as he cozies up to the people in the SS Army who were notorious for their extermination of Jewish people. It was interesting to watch how his relationship with top ranking officers such as Julian Scherner and Amon Göth. He showed the audience the effort and sacrifices that Schindler has put in in order to get the favouritism of the Nazi party, which serves as an added advantage in running his enamelware factory. From buying them drinks to his smooth talk, his effort paid off afterwards as both Scherner and Amon bailed him from prison after he was found kissing a Jewish girl at a party. Under normal circumstances, Schindler would be considered a horrible person for using his friendship with other people to use them for his own needs, but from the perspective of the audience, it created an us versus them scenario as the Nazis were viewed as the antagonist during the war, hence Schindler's betrayal to the Nazis were celebrated as he used the friendship of the Nazis to save the Jewish people that were working in his factory.
Not only that, Schindler was also portrayed in the movie in a way that is a little but necessary dramatic for cinematic purposes, which is his transition from a businessman who is only interested in his business at first, to becoming a humanitarian saving the lives of over 1,500 Jews. The reason why Schindler hired Jewish workers at first was under the advice of his accountant and assistant, Itzhak Stern, as Jewish labourers costed lesser compared to Polish workers, hence Schindler hired over a thousand Jewish workers for his enamelware factory. In a pivotal moment, Spielberg made sure that the audience felt what Schindler was feeling at the moment when he watched Jewish people being slaughtered left and right by the Nazi party, from atop a hill after a casual horse ride with his wife. I could feel myself tensing up and shifting in my seat as the Nazis blew up the heads of Jews with a bullet through their heads. There were also moments where families were ripped apart and the desperate attempt of Jews to run free from the Nazis and their fatal failed attempt at escaping from the army. I think that Spielberg did a fantastic job at this as he manages to bring out the horrors of the war not only from the killings, but also what the Jewish community went through at that moment through the separation from family members and desperate attempts at hiding from the Nazis in places that are usually avoided by people, such as the sewer. At that moment, we can see Schindler finally deciding to save his Jewish workers from the same fate as the Jewish community living in the ghettos, where his cunningness and persuasiveness is finally put to a more meaningful use.
Another proof of Spielberg's mastery of film making is his use of focus. He was a genius at making sure the film was shot entirely in black and white, to bring out the atmosphere of despair and melancholy of the war period. But suddenly, halfway through the movie, the first hint of colour appeared, which was a scene where the audience follows the attempt of a small girl in a red robe running away to find a hiding place from the Nazis. She was the only feature in the movie that has colour as she was running away from the Nazis before she was shown in black and white again when she finally found a hiding spot underneath a bed. To me, this was a way for Spielberg to show hope in a world full of despair, as colour represents hope and a bright future against the nature of despair in black and white. But later in the movie, we see the girl in the red robe among a pile of bodies outside of a concentration camp. This is where the audience's initial hope for the girl to survive the horrors of war is shattered, as even the only glimmer of hope was lost to despair. But Spielberg is only trying to portray what the Jewish people at that time were feeling when they were desperately looking for hope to cling on to as they were being shipped to concentration camps. To tie up the movie, Speilberg made sure the audience see hope return when the real Schindler Jews walked side by side with the actors playing their corresponding roles visited Oskar Schindler's grave. This scene was shot with colour, signifying a better tomorrow and future as the horrors of war were finally over and peace has returned, with the Jewish survivors continuing their lives all because of this one hero. It was a beautiful and emotional moment as even in death, Schindler will be remembered for generations to come, just like what he wanted when he told Stern at one point in the movie that he wanted to be remembered by leaving a legacy behind, which had nothing to do with saving Jews at first. This movie has brought out the empathy and humanitarian side of man who is willing to sacrifice their lives and money to save other human beings from the wrath of war.
So yes, to end this post, thank you again Steven Spielberg for this masterpiece of a documentary that showed the harmony of hope and despair.
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