Schindler's List

A dirge for the lives lost and honouring the lives that survived, even with the help of a man as reprehensible as Schindler. Before I continue, I want to touch on a highly contentious issue about this movie that is relevant today, the implication of Zionism and the State of Palestine and the subjugation towards it and its people. I am a defender of Palestine and I desire for its freedom from the grip of Israel. I am anti-Zionism, but I am not anti-Semitic. Jewish people deserve life like any other, this movie is anti-genocide and anti-fascism. I think It's not really a movie about Zionism. You see many negative reviews of this movie as pro-zionism for the song at the end and the inclusion of Israel's existence. I think it would be obtuse to completely ignore the existence of Israel and the song is a blemish, but despite both the song and humanization of a bona fide Nazi, this didn't ruin anything for me. I view this movie as a movie depicting the horrors of the holocaust from a mostly isolated position in the story of Oscar Schindler, the venture capitalist who developed empathy, even though he is a terrible person. This isn't a documentary, but a movie about how a man was able to save 1100 lives. Regardless of the outcome afterwards. I believe you can enjoy this movie for its merits and brilliance, while still being able to acknowledge and defend Palestine and the horrors that Israel has done in the aftermath of this atrocious moment in history. It is being replicated in a sort of chain of pain and malevolence. ────────────────────────────────── Now for the topic of Schindler's List. This is a depressing movie that I might never approach again, even beyond the reasonings I had in the previous page. This is a dark movie that accurately and masterfully portrays the evil that was subjected to them, most characterized by SS officer Amon Goethe. The length of 3 hours is on purpose, it needs you to spend time in this manmade hell to fully exemplify the terror being brought upon the people being stricken of their Humanity. I've seen criticism levied to this movie and its portrayal of the Jews of their agency as characters. I think it works not only because of the story being exhibited but even though in real life some did have agency and some camps did have revolts (even if most failed). This movie would not have worked as well, nor the villain Amon Goethe. It's a bona fide fact of the holocaust that they were stricken of autonomy so to have agency wouldn't hone in the tragedy subjected to them. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes give all time performances, of subtlely and grandeur. They give career defining performances that instill why they are legendary actors and why they have the status they do in pop culture. Oskar Schindler's journey from a nihilistic capitalist to a man who found empathy and breaks down because he felt he could've helped more is captivating. Although I do criticize it for humanizing him when he was a member of the Nazi party. I think it's fine in the end because to view it as strictly humanizing a Nazi, is without nuance. Amon Goethe is a terrifying presence that feels like the tenants of Nazism and imperial fascism made manifest. Your breath is lost as your eyes are glued to his scenes where he eats up the atmosphere and replaces it with his disgusting malevolence. To think that he was toned down for this movie is shocking to me. I forget who won the actor award this year, but it should have gone to these 2 I believe. I also want to compliment Ben Kingsley, I believe this is the first major drama role I have seen him in, and he lives up to his image as an excellent actor. The cinematography is excellent as always and some of his best in this, the choice of black and white and only having one use of colour is simply inspired between the beginning and end. I love black and white, and I love how it can better emphasize both emotions, but also angles and blocking. This has one of my favourite music scores and is captivating with its “melo-beauty” and cynical depression that accentuates every scene. I believe this to be Williams' best score and his most deserving win out of all of them. ────────────────────────────────── To conclude, I wanted to make this review as nuanced and sincere as I could. I am a sincere leftist and I want to point that there are problems, however I think they don't diminish this movie of its quality. I was on the fence of giving this a lower score, but in acknowledgment of its standing and influence and my fascination with both this movie and Spielberg, I decided to not put it at a lower score. Furthermore, I decided to keep it at a higher score. 5/5. Free Palestine.