SCHINDLER’S LIST (Theatrical Release USA 1993)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Stars ìììì

Schindler’s List—beautiful and stunning, perfectly crafted by Director Steven Spielberg—completely overwhelms all his previous works, hands down. It’s not a pretty story. It deserves a 4.9 rating; however, due to the necessarily graphic nature of film that includes nudity and sex, it receives a slightly lower rating. This film, perhaps better than any film produced by Hollywood, illustrates the moral imperative each human carries to preserve life, to value life above material gain, to love others by refusing to inflict pain, and to refuse to compromise moral integrity.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a business entrepreneur, bribes high-ranking German military officers so he can start an enamel works factory that serves German military needs during World War II. He recruits Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), a Jewish businessman, to oversee the factory. Oskar Schindler hires Jewish workers because they cost less and Itzhack Stern fills the factory with an entirely Jewish work force in an effort to save them from certain death in concentration camps. Oskar Schindler becomes increasingly moved by the Jewish plight and repeatedly steps forward with courage to preserve his workforce even to the point of moving the entire force to a new munitions factory he begins in another city. Due to Oskar Schindler’s efforts, 1,200 Jewish persons escape certain death in World War II concentration camps. In 1963 Oskar Schindler receives the Jewish award of “Righteous Among the Nations,” an award given to non-Jews who risk their life to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Steven Spielberg. Thank you to Executive Producer Kathleen Kennedy for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes), Emilie Schindler (Caroline Goodall), and Helen Hirsch (Embeth Davidtz).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film scores 100 percent in every category from story/script to filming technique to timing to audience appeal to ‘need to know’ history.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers