Directed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List is a harrowing and emotionally powerful portrayal of the Holocaust, based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Jewish refugees during World War II. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, praised for its unflinching depiction of human cruelty, as well as the redemptive power of compassion.
Schindler's List - Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast
Movie: | Schindler's List |
Genre: | Biography, Drama, History |
Language: | English, German, Polish, Hebrew |
Director: | Steven Spielberg |
Main Cast: | Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern Ralph Fiennes as Amon Göth |
Release Date: | December 15, 1993 |
Banner: | Steven Spielberg, Branko Lustig, Gerald R. Molen |
Music: | Not available |
Budget: | $22 million |
Runtime: | 195 minutes |
Set in Nazi-occupied Poland, the film follows Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a member of the Nazi party who sees an opportunity to profit from the war by employing Jewish workers in his enamelware factory. Initially motivated by greed, Schindler is initially indifferent to the suffering around him. However, as he witnesses the brutality of the Nazi regime, including the mass killings in the Kraków Ghetto, his perspective begins to change. Schindler, deeply affected by the horrors he sees, starts to use his wealth and influence to save the lives of as many Jews as possible, eventually protecting over 1,100 workers from certain death in the concentration camps.
The film is shot predominantly in black and white, a decision by Spielberg to give the film an archival, documentary-like feel, emphasizing the historical realism of the events depicted. The cinematography is stunning, with Spielberg’s signature use of long, slow takes that allow the weight of the subject matter to sink in. One of the most iconic and haunting images is the girl in the red coat, symbolizing the innocence lost in the Holocaust and the moral awakening of Schindler himself.