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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Schindler's List : by Steven Spielberg

Holocaust - Genocide of Six Million European Jews during WWII by Nazi - Germany

Oskar Schindler - A German businessman who was self reliant , independent , shrewd & money making Nazi supporter.

The List - A roll call of 1,100 Jews , survivors of the Ghetto.

Schindler's List is a true story inspired from a biographical book about a man , Oskar , who with his business acumen had a profound impact upon seeing the atrocities by Hitler led Nazis on the Jews.

Oskar played by Liam Neeson is a charismatic & alluring man. He has all the attention in the book and support from the military & SS.

He acquires a factory and starts his production  with his close associate Stern played by immensely talented Ben Kingsley.

Schindler had one simple objective - 'Maximize his profits by getting cheap Jews Labor' even if it means bribing the SS (Nazi Military).

Ralph Fiennes plays a SS Lieutenant who looks over the construction of the Plaszow concentration camp & orders his troops to empty all Jews with shoot at sight orders.

Stern & Schindler are distraught at the sight of massacre around them . Schilnder wants to save as many as he can in the event of  the orders to move all Jews to Auschwitz ,

They create the list of 1,100  Jews to work at his artillery shells factory thereby saving lives from the Nazis.

The performances by the actors is exemplary. The filming in black n white gave this film a documentary feel and a timeless sense.

A master craftsman , Spielberg used nuances which are heartrending , poignant , disturbing , sorrowful. The red color of the coat worn by the little girl used at the end symbolized hope & the bloodbath at the same time.

Crying was inevitable as the credits rolled , the pain of Schindler at the end comes a full circle.

Film of the decade (1990-2000) with 7 Oscars for Oskar!

"Whoever saves one life saves the world entire."
- inscription by the Jew workers on the ring gifted to Oskar.


Rating :   5/ 5.0

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