The Schindler´s List: Between Grief and Compassion

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more.

Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

Oskar Schindler: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...

Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did.

Oskar Schindler: I didn't do enough!

Itzhak Stern: You did so much.

Steven Spielberg has been a blockbuster director since the begining of his career, with huge audience success such as de previously mentioned E.T, Jurassic Park or Jaws. But, there´s a film, that differs from the rest in a quite postitive way. Far from the director´s typical sci-fi, special effects, far from this world movies, the "Schindler´s List" showed a different perspective of this film-maker habilities.

“Schindler’s List” follows the enigmatic Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, who saved the lives of more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. Based on Thomas Keneally's historical novel Schindler's Ark, the movie follows the story of a German businessman who saved the lives of a huge number of Jews by employing them in his factories during World War II, in a Germany under Nazi regime.

Curiously, this year marks the 25th anniversary of this iconic film, which its own director haven't seen with an audience since its premier, a quarter century ago. The movie that was nominated for 12 academy awards and won 7, including Best Film and Best Director.

Spielberg captures the horror, and the atrocities that happened throughout all the Holocaust in a dramatic and raw way, in which the audience is directly impacted and overwhelmed of the reality that lived thousand of Jews. Is is a story of humankind, one of the best until nowadays. One of the few films which shows that period of time in such a humane way, if that is ever possible.

The movie ends with the appearance of the real-life surviving "Schindler Jews" as they visit the late hero's grave site in Jerusalem. Spielberg came up with the idea as a way to remind viewers that what they witnessed on screen was based on actual events. "I certainly know that I have never felt since Schindler's List the kind of pride and satisfaction, and sense of real, meaningful accomplishment — I haven't felt that on any film post-Schindler's List," Spielberg said.

Schindler sees a girl in red during the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto. The red coat is one of the few instances of color used in this predominantly black and white film. And, in my opinion, an unforgettable scene. The meaning and the symbolism worked through not only the movie but specifically in that scene is heart-shaking. The message is clear later in the film, when Schindler sees her her tragical end, recognizable only by the red coat she is still wearing. Spielberg said the scene was intended to symbolize how members of the highest levels of government in the United States knew the Holocaust was occurring, yet did nothing to stop it. “Nothing was being done to slow down ... the annihilation of European Jewry," he said. "So that was my message in letting that scene be in color.”