Schindlers List Steven Spielberg 1993

On the eve of September 1939, one of the darkest eras in history has dawned upon in Europe that will forever haunt humanity: The Holocaust. This ungraspable act of anti-Semitic genocide has left such a painful gash on the concept of innocence of humanity and the dangerous ability of society easily adapt to denial as millions of Jews and minorities were annihilated under the evil influence of Nordic supremacist Adolf Hitler. It is inevitable not to feel overwhelmed when trying to comprehend with what exactly happened during the Holocaust. One cannot simply imagine and visualize the extent of cruelty and torture placed upon the victims without having the sense of experiencing a surge of morbid distress. Museums, books and pictures help educate people, but there is only to a certain extent that these factual information serve their purpose- that is, feeding information of what happened instead of why the holocaust happened- and has been a tremendous difficult reality to grasp emotionally and intellectually. Thankfully enough, Steven Spielbergs award-winning masterpiece, Schindlers List has served its purpose to fill in this chasm under three-hours of ambivalent, emotional turbulence from its intense imagery. I couldnt help feel the intensity of emotions as I watched this film. Steven Spielbergs eclectic mix of style such as film noir and cinema verite deepens the impact of my immersion in the historical setting. The use of black and white throughout the film also intensified the violence and the duality of good and evil associated to the plot of this documentary, making myself and other viewers feel the

oppression that cannot be justified through textual documentation. For instance, the lighting and contrast in the film noir deeply increased the feeling associated with the brutality of each violent scene. The feeling of nostalgia dawned upon me as I watched the pile of burning bodies in the Paslow work camp. I was deeply moved and enticed in such a conniving degree when I realized that in one of the two brief cinematographic shots that were colored; the scene wherein the little girl in a red coat and candles burning with orange flames- foreshadows the scene that was later on monochromatically filmed. Besides the contrasting themes in the plot that was greatly enhanced by the imagery, Oscar Schindlers characterization and how it contrasts well with Amon Goeth. I reflected upon their difference and its perplexing to know that such characterization exists amidst the boundaries of fiction. Keep in mind that these two characters did exist along with the rest of those unnamed bodies a few decades ago, when civilization has opted for social ignorance. However, with the characterization of Oscar Schindler later on as the protagonist when he successfully saved the lives of 1000 jews in the labor camp and served as the epitome of the good side of humanity. Amon Goeth however, with his sadistic and ruthless personality served as a representation of the entire Nazi party as well as the likes of Dr. Mandela and the Third Reich. Unlike Schindler, his view towards the Jews as vermin creatures that are unworthy of possessing even the most basic form of human rights left the impression of both sadness as well as crippling anger knowing that under the influence of passionate hate that it is possible for us humans to mindless monsters that only the most heartless and psychotic minds could desire.