Considering that it was just Rosh Hashanah and I haven’t talked about my favorite films in a while, I thought it would be a good time to bring back my top five films of all-time countdown with number three: Steven Spielberg’s dramatic masterpiece “Schindler’s List” (1993). The film follows the true story of German businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) who, during the Holocaust, saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews.
The film follows Schindler and countless Jews throughout the war, from the very beginning when Nazis first drove Jews out of their homes to the very last moments as Russians liberated various concentration camps. Spielberg and screenwriter Stephen Zaillian adapt Thomas Keneally’s book “Schindler’s Ark” perfectly to the screen, allowing the viewer to have ample time to connect with Schindler himself while also spending time with the Jewish people involved and the main antagonist of the film, the Nazi officer Amon Goeth. Goeth is played masterfully by Ralph Fiennes who is also well known for his portrayal of Voldemort in the Harry Potter films.
Other stand-out cast members include Ben Kingsley as Schindler’s Jewish attorney Itzhak Stern, Caroline Goodall as Schindler’s wife Emilie and Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch, Goeth’s Jewish housemaid. Every single cast member in the film is at the top of their game and is fully immersed in the scenes and situations around them, making the film seem like a documentary.
Another aspect that adds to this is Janusz Kaminski’s gorgeous cinematography. The entire film, besides two specific moments at the beginning and end, is shot in black and white. This, along with most of the film being shot in a handheld style, gives the movie a more gritty, realistic feeling. There are many moments during the film where it seems you are watching actual footage from the Holocaust, causing your stomach to turn and sink in your seat.
Spielberg’s frequent collaborator, John Williams, composed the score for the film and in my opinion, created one of the greatest pieces of music ever written titled “Theme from Schindler’s List.” Throughout the film, Williams’ haunting music elevates the dread to another level, creating a unique cinematic experience not found in other WWII-era-based films.
Many scenes in the film are shot on location. Seeing hundreds of actors and actresses walking down the street in Germany fleeing their homes and lives is haunting. Some parts of the film were even shot at Auschwitz, the main concentration camp used by the Nazis.
“Schindler’s List” is so much more than a Holocaust film. It’s a film about a self-absorbed man who opens his eyes to the problems happening in the world around him and unlike many others during this time, helps those in need. There is a reason Oskar Schindler is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery and had a tree planted in his honor at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. “Schindler’s List” is not just one of the greatest films ever made, but in my opinion, is the most important film ever made and is one that must be watched by everyone.
