MPAA Rating: R/Genre: Epic Historical Drama/Stars: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz, Małgorzata Gebel, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Jerzy Nowak, Norbert Weisser, Albert Misak, Michael Gordon, Aldona Grochal, Uri Avrahami, Michael Schneider, Miri Fabian, Anna Mucha, Adi Nitzan, Jacek Wójcicki, Beata Paluch, Piotr Polk, Bettina Kupfer, Grzegorz Kwas, Kamil Krawiec, Henryk Bista, Ezra Dagan, Rami Heuberger, Elina Löwensohn, Krzysztof Luft, Harry Nehring, Wojciech Klata, Paweł Deląg, Hans-Jörg Assmann, August Schmölzer, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Daniel Del Ponte, Adam Siemion, Jochen Nickel, Ludger Pistor, Oliwia Dąbrowska/Runtime: 195 minutes
I know it might be something which may be a tad bit on the cliché side of things due to the possibility of having it told to us repeatedly while we are growing up, but contrary to the cynical view of the world at this time we as individuals can still make a difference that can impact more than just themselves. Indeed be it as simple a task as feeding the homeless, helping an old lady cross the street, letting the people in your life know how much they mean to you, or even just the simple action of doing the best you can in your day to day life there is no denying that these actions, as elementary as they may look, can still have repercussions that resonate for a very long time. Besides these actions however, there are also the choices that we as people make which can change the lives of others whom we might never meet yet who wind up going on to things that could potentially impact the world around us for the better. Indeed remember that old lady I mentioned in the previous example? Well it turns out that by helping her cross the street you gave her a chance to meet her grandchildren for the first time and one of her grandsons was so inspired by her and her legacy of caring for others that he decided to start a charity in her name that wound up taking care of at least 11 million people of a certain age within its first 5 years of operation. Yet none of that would have been possible without you helping his grandmother cross the street that day. With that in mind, the reason I bring this up to you dear reader is not because this is the start of an inspiring TED talk on being the best person you can be (though in all fairness I am sure that one has been done already). Rather, it’s because it is also the core concept of a slice of cinema from 1993, and film I happen to be reviewing for you today incidentally, known as Schindler’s List. A film that is the remarkable true story of a man who, upon witnessing the atrocities being horrifically bestowed upon a group of people by another group that I have no shame in classifying as pure evil, decided to take a stand and do something about it. It also is a slice of cinema that I can, with absolutely no hesitation whatsoever, say that this is easily one of the most emotionally gripping films that I have, or will ever, see in my entire life. I say that because, with the aid of absolutely pitch perfect work on both sides of the camera, Schindler’s List is without question one of the best films of the past 4 decades to say nothing of a cinematic experience that I think everyone over the age of 17 needs to embark on at least once.
The plot is as follows: Based on the incredible true story, Schindler’s List gets underway by taking us back in time to the beginning of the Second World War in late 1939 where we see that, in the aftermath of the Germans defeating the Polish, Jewish people from Poland are beginning to be relocated from across the country to the city of Krakow. While all of this is occurring, we see that a rather distinct individual also arrives in town in the form of a guy by the name of Oskar Schindler. A man who, among other things worth knowing about him, is a womanizing, hard drinking, and incredibly self-serving member of the Nazis who has decided to come to Krakow in order to strike it rich by utilizing the extremely ample amount of Jewish people in town as inexpensive labor to help him in the objective of mass-producing enamelware to be utilized by German military forces. A business model that, in order for it to run as smoothly as possible, means that Schindler will have to accomplish two things before anything else. The first is that he must first identify and then form connections with the right people in both the army as well as the SS whilst continually bestowing on them copious “gifts” (or bribes if you prefer the proper term) in order to ensure they continue to aid him in his endeavors rather than operate against him in any way. The second is that he must find someone who can aid him in running this business since he, to put it lightly, doesn’t exactly have the know-how to do so. Fortunately for Mr. Schindler this particular problem is quickly handled when he makes the acquaintance of one Itzhak Stern. A man who, besides being an official in Krakow’s Jewish Council, also has friends/associates amongst the Jewish business community which has had to go underground since being placed in the ghettos of Krakow by the Nazis. As a result, we see that it isn’t long before Schindler’s factory is open, business is booming, and Schindler himself has become both successful and fairly well-off to say nothing of the toast of the various Nazi party members in town. As good as life is for Schindler however, we see that it isn’t long before things go from bad to worse for the Jewish people in his employ. A worse that not only takes the shape and form of a particularly ruthless member of the SS named Amon Göth, but which also comes when Göth, under orders to build a labor camp nearby, orders the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto with the right to shoot anyone he deems necessary being a part of that order. An event that, unbeknownst to Göth, is witnessed by Schindler from afar while out horseback riding in the hills nearby. As a result, a seed of an idea has now been planted. One that will not only see Schindler devote himself to a cause that could get him killed if caught, but which (if successful) could change the lives of more people than he could even begin to imagine….
Now right off, it should be said that every single unit operating behind the camera on this slice of cinema is absolutely operating at the pinnacle of their respective abilities. Without any question in my mind whatsoever this starts with the work done from the director’s chair by filmmaking icon Steven Spielberg and this is definitely among the top 5 films that he has made as a director bar none. Indeed there are several components to Spielberg’s work at the helm here which really help to distinguish it. The first is that Spielberg, in that way he is able to pull off quite masterfully, is able to effortlessly balance the moments of sheer heartbreak and horror on display with moments of optimism and even compassion. By doing so, we see that Spielberg is doing more than just showcasing for us the range of human emotion in a situation like this. Rather, he is also showing us that even in the worst moments of human history the spirit can still be quite resilience and that goodness can still be found thereby making each moment more powerful as a result. Along with that, we see that Spielberg makes the incredible decision here to actually shoot in the actual places where the events depicted actually occurred, including the concentration camp of Auschwitz, as well as incorporate at a key point in the movie real-life Holocaust survivors. As a result, we as movie goers are treated to a terrific sense of devotion. Not just to ensuring the story being told is done so in an authentic manner, but also in conveying a wonderful, and welcome, degree of respect for the individuals who actually went through the events at the heart of this film. Alongside the exemplary work done by Spielberg at the helm, the film also contains an incredibly written screenplay as penned by Oscar-winner Steven Zaillian. Indeed not only does Zaillian do a brilliant job of constructing the characters at the heart of the story, but he is also quite successful with ensuring the individual tales on display are given just as much in terms of emotional weight and gravitas as the widespread terror of the Holocaust in general thus crafting for audiences a story that is a wonderful mix of both compelling and solid respectively. We also see that this slice of cinema is also the blessed recipient of downright gorgeous work from Oscar-winner Janusz Kamiński in the cinematography department. Indeed not only does Kamiński do a wonderful job of providing this film with a documentary-style vibe, courtesy of his choice to shoot in black and white, that makes it more impactful as a result, but through a considerable usage of natural light, the film is able to be that much more genuine let alone powerful in what it is trying to convey to us, the viewers. Last, but most certainly not least this section would definitely be incomplete if I didn’t talk about the truly moving work done by maestro John Williams on this film’s Oscar-winning score. Indeed not only does Williams do a wonderful job of capturing the same emotional gravitas as the rest of the film, but he also makes the creative choice to engage in a very minimalist style here. As a result, what we are treated to here is a score that is nuanced yet extremely powerful and moving all in one. Suffice it to say that when you factor in haunting yet beautiful and Oscar-winning work from the editing department as headed by Michael Kahn and the costume department among others it’s clear that this slice of cinema is most assuredly quite the emotional journey to go on as a viewer and the work done by the groups behind the camera definitely are a key factor in it being able to make what you, the viewer feel be as genuine and potent as possible.
Alongside the truly excellent work done by the various units operating behind the camera, this slice of cinema is also the blessed recipient of an equally as phenomenal collection of performances in front of the camera by an impeccably chosen cast of talent. Without a doubt in my mind, this starts with none other than screen gem Liam Neeson in the lead role and honestly this is easily one of the 7 best performances of the man’s career. Indeed as Oskar Schindler, we see that Neeson does an incredible job of presenting us with an individual who, when we first meet him, is very much the epitome of opportunistic to say nothing of highly self-centered. As the film goes on and his eyes are opened more and more to the atrocities that his work staff are being faced with, we see that Neeson is able to effectively shed both of those things in order to give us a man who is deeply empathetic, compassionate, and willing to anything including putting his own financial assets to say nothing of personal safety at risk in order to keep the workers he has come to care about on a personal level safe from the threat of annihilation presented to them by the Nazis. Indeed it’s a phenomenal performance and one that, despite being nominated, should have definitely garnered Neeson an Oscar. Besides Neeson, this slice of cinema also gives us a terrific co-starring turn from fellow screen icon Sir Ben Kinglsey in the pivotal role of Itzhak Stern. Indeed Kingsley is wonderful here at shining a light on an individual who, besides being this terrific hybrid of brilliance, precise, reliable, and gravely resilient is also someone who is very much meant to be the moral conscience of the film and open Schindler’s, and by extension all of us in the audience as well, eyes to the horrific acts being engaged in against the people who he has chosen to employ. Besides the outstanding work done here by both Neeson as well as Kingsley however, they are matched incredibly well here by the chilling to say nothing of genuinely monstrous work done by Ralph Fiennes as the film’s main antagonist Amon Göth. Yes it might take about 45-50 minutes before he shows up, but once he does Fiennes is legitimately terrifying here as a human monster who takes a sadistic delight in the suffering of the prisoners in his camp be it in verbally degrading them or, as seen in one chilling scene, shooting them first thing in the morning not because those are his orders, but simply because he can. Suffice it to say that when you also factor in masterful efforts from such performers as Caroline Goodall (1994’s Disclosure and Mia’s mom in The Princess Diaries movies), Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz (1999’s Bicentennial Man and Peter Parker’s mom in Andrew Garfield’s 2 Spider-Man movies), Małgorzata Gebel, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Jerzy Nowak, Norbert Weisser, Albert Misak, Michael Gordon, Aldona Grochal, Uri Avrahami, Michael Schneider, Miri Fabian, Anna Mucha, Adi Nitzan, Jacek Wójcicki, Beata Paluch, Piotr Polk, Bettina Kupfer, Grzegorz Kwas, Kamil Krawiec, Henryk Bista, Ezra Dagan, Rami Heuberger, Elina Löwensohn, Krzysztof Luft, Harry Nehring, Wojciech Klata, Paweł Deląg, Hans-Jörg Assmann, August Schmölzer, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Daniel Del Ponte, Adam Siemion, Jochen Nickel, Ludger Pistor, and a brief yet pivotal role for Oliwia Dąbrowska it’s clear that every single person in this cast was aware of the powerful story that they were bringing to life and as a result they all are able to rise to the occasion and make sure their performances are both equally as powerful to say nothing of respectful. Not only of the story being told or of the heart wrenching tragedy at the heart of the narrative, but for the millions of people whose lives were tragically and horrifically impacted as well.
All in all and at the end of the day I want to make this clear: I have met 3 Holocaust survivors, one of whom was Anne Frank’s stepsister, I have been to several museums dedicated to the subject (including the one in Washington D.C.), and I have been to the remains of Dachau Concentration Camp just outside of Munich. I also am someone who believes that the atrocities of the Holocaust should never again be bestowed upon another group of people as long as human beings walk the Earth (or anywhere else for that matter). Perhaps it is for those reasons, to say nothing of my own inherent humanity, that I find myself telling you that Schindler’s List is more than just a gripping and genuinely moving masterpiece; rather, it is a slice of cinema that everyone over a certain age (15-16) needs to see at least once in their lives. Indeed the fact is dear reader that this slice of cinema is designed to be more than just something you watch. Rather, it is also something that is designed to ensure that you hopefully walk away from it with a bit more knowledge, a bit more heart, a bit more compassion, and a fair amount of anger as well. Not just for the suffering faced by the Jewish people at that time in the history of life on this planet, but for the suffering faced by people of all races, religions, and backgrounds every single day. More than anything though, I hope that this slice of cinema is able to inspire you much in the way that it inspired me to strive each and every day to make people’s lives better in some way. Not for your benefit or personal gain, but because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s what can help us ensure that we too, much like Oskar Schindler, are able to make a difference in the world around us. No we might not ever get the chance to see it, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen at some point. In the case of this film however there is no denying that the work done at the helm is spectacular, the cinematography is genuinely beautiful, the score is absolutely majestic, the script is nothing short of brilliant, and the performances in front of the camera from the work done by Neeson, Fiennes, and Kingsley on down are all absolutely impeccable no matter how much or how little screentime each of them are ultimately given to work with during this film’s 195 minute runtime. Yet, besides all of the aforementioned positives, there is perhaps one last thing that this film does incredibly. That being that, in its own way, it is a heartbreakingly powerful reminder. Not just of the power that cinema can have, but of what we as people need to do to ensure that the events that occurred in this film never happen again to anyone. Make of that what thou will dear reader. On a scale of 1-5 I emotionally give Schindler’s List “93” a solid 5 out of 5.
