Schindler's List Essay

By the time Steven Spielberg got around to developing Schindler’s List, the film industry was already flooded with movies about the Holocaust. But no one had ever presented that horrifying genocide like Spielberg’s 1993 film did— for that matter, no one has since been able to reach its level of mastery. From the poignant dialogue, to the cinematographic style, to the convincing performances by both seasoned and newcomer actors and actresses, Schindler’s List is the barometer by which all other historical dramas films ought to be measured. In contrast to many films that seek to develop characters as quickly as possible for the sake of the viewers’ attention, Schindler’s List is entirely unconcerned with the presence of an audience; Spielberg takes his time in the exposition, giving the viewer’s thoughts a voice in a high-ranking German officer at a nightclub who asks, “Who is that man?” Indeed, this is the central question of the film. Who is Oskar Schindler? Is he a war profiteer? Is he a salvific character? Or could he perhaps be both? This principal struggle is maneuvered perfectly …show more content…
It is perturbing. It will stain the cheeks of even the most restrained man with bittersweet tears, as he is dismayed at the depths of evil descended by fellow men but relieved by the conversion of Oskar Schindler. That is not to say that those who have not yet seen the film should shy away from watching it. On the contrary, Schindler’s List should be seen by all. It is a powerful reminder of humanity’s tumultuous history, a history filled with unimaginable vileness alongside remarkable altruism. As the old adage goes, “those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” Only a handful of movies are capable of leaving their audience silent well after the final credits have rolled off the screen. Schindler’s List is one of these