Schindler's List

I have another Holocaust movie to write about, and this time its the Academy Award winner, Schindler's List. I have a theory that the reason (in my opinion) there are so many good movies about the Holocaust is because the film-makers must ensure they produce something interesting and unique to set it apart from the myriad movies already made on the topic. As such, I found Schindler's List particularly interesting as it is based on the amazing true story of Oskar Schindler.

Schindler's List tells the story of profiteering German factory owner, Schindler, who ended up virtually "penniless" (IMDb) after buying the 1100 Jews who worked for him - to save them from the gas chambers. With amazing camera work and a score by John Williams (of 'Jurassic Park', 'Star Wars' and 'Jaws' fame), the film quite rightly is referred to as a "cinematic masterpiece that has become one of the most honoured films of all time", on the DVD cover.

"the film quite rightly is referred to as a

"cinematic masterpiece that has become

one of the most honoured films of all time"

The film is particularly interesting in itself. The director, Steven Spielberg shot the film almost entirely in black and white, with the exception of a young girl in a red coat. This was rather clever, I thought, as it made her stand out in amongst all the black and white, and in amongst all the death and dying. This makes it more personal for the viewer who has an innocent little girl to hold hope for. This hope is lost later in the film when her dead body reappears. However, by putting her in colour, Spielberg has made her a symbol for all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Because as we know, it is quite easy to find yourself thinking more in terms of numbers and statistics rather than actual individuals who lost their lives.

This concept was also brought home for me at the end of the film. Schindler is shown to break down at the conclusion of the war, when he realises he still possesses material wealth that could have been used to save more lives,

Schindler: 'This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car?
Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.'

[removing Nazi pin from lapel]

'This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this.'

[sobbing]

'I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't!'

Again, this scene reiterates the importance of individual lives, rather than depersonalising the issue by focusing on the millions as a whole. This scene, and in fact this movie, reminded me of Stalin's quote, "the death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic." And we see that Spielberg tries to bring the focus back to the tragedy.

Schindler's List was a particularly personal venture into the Holocaust. For me, this film put a face to the "statistic" that Stalin speaks of. It got my brain going, and made me question how perhaps, in this modern world we live in today we have become desensitised to death and dying.


Get a feel for this unique piece by viewing the trailer...

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The recently released, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the next movie on my list for this series. Like with most movies, I decided to go watch this Mark Herman directed piece after viewing the trailer (watch here). However, the ending I was faced with was nothing like what I had expected. Perhaps naively I thought it would be the sort of movie that would have its share of darkness, but still find its way to a positive ending. And perhaps this thought was influenced by the knowledge that this was an adaption of a children's novel (of the same name) by John Boyne. Or perhaps I should have just read Paul Byrnes review in the Sydney Morning Herald when he let everyone else know that, "the film is terribly confronting" (read the full review). Unfortunately or fortunately however (depending on what you wanted from this film), the story starts of relatively positively and delves further and further into the darkness of the Holocaust, and never finds its way out.

"...the ending I was faced with was nothing like what I had expected."

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the story of childhood innocence within the harsh environment of a death camp in the Third Reich. Bruno is a young boy forced to move when his Nazi father takes a job in the country as a commander of the 'farm' (as Bruno interprets it). Bruno defies his parents' orders to stay away from the 'farm' and meets a young boy called Shmuel through the electric fence surrounding the camp. The boys forge a secret relationship, talking and playing through the fence, unknowing as to why they are being kept apart.

The movie theatre I was in remained silent until the end of the closing credits when i went to see this film. And, from what I can tell from IMDb user comments, we weren't the only screening to experience this. It was reassuring to know I wasn't the only one shocked by this film. Without ruining the movie for you (though if you delve too far into any user comments online someone else will), the utter tragic nature of the ending will just leave you speechless.

"It was reassuring to know I wasn't the only one shocked by this film."

Through excellent cinematography and scenery, quality acting, and a particularly dramatic score, this film evokes an array of emotions. I believe it was made to make you feel something. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas made me really think about and question human behaviour, and contemplate the evil that has been committed in this world. The way the audience sees through Bruno's perspective accentuates the horror of Nazi atrocities, as we watch a child try to understand something dark and disturbing that is out of comprehension.

The way this story and Herman's screenplay delves into childhood innocence and morality will tug at the heart strings of most viewers.