Schindler’s List Movie

Based on the 1982 novel “Schindler’s Ark” by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally, Schindler’s List is a 1993 epic historical drama film directed, produced, and written by Steven Spielberg and Steven Zaillian. The plot follows German entrepreneur Oskar Schindler’s actions during World War II, when he employed over a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish immigrants in his factories and helped them escape the Holocaust. Ben Kingsley plays Schindler’s Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern, Ralph Fiennes plays SS officer Amon Göth, and Liam Neeson plays Schindler.

Poldek Pfefferberg, a member of the Schindlerjuden who devoted his life to telling Schindler’s narrative, was the driving force behind the concept for a movie about the group as early as 1963. An executive Sidney Sheinberg’s book review of “Schindler’s Ark” caught Steven Spielberg’s attention. Even when Universal Pictures bought the rights to the novel, Spielberg was hesitant to direct a Holocaust movie at first. He tried to give the project to other filmmakers before opting to take the helm.

In order to create the impression of a documentary, Spielberg chose to shoot the film in black and white over the course of 72 days in Kraków, Poland, in 1993. Janusz Kamiński, the cinematographer, strived for an ageless style. Itzhak Perlman, a violinist, plays the score’s moving main theme, which was written by the well-known John Williams.

Premiering on November 30, 1993, in Washington, D.C., and releasing on December 15, 1993, in the United States, “Schindler’s List” has consistently been hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. It garnered widespread acclaim for its nuanced tone, exceptional acting (especially from Neeson, Fiennes, and Kingsley), immersive atmosphere, powerful score, striking cinematography, and Spielberg’s masterful direction. Beyond critical success, the film achieved substantial box office earnings, grossing $322.2 million worldwide on a modest $22 million budget. At the 66th Academy Awards, it earned twelve nominations and secured seven wins, including Best Picture, Best Director (Spielberg), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. Additional accolades comprised seven BAFTAs and three Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, the American Film Institute honored “Schindler’s List” as the 8th best American film of all time, and in 2004, the Library of Congress recognized its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance, selecting it for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Schindler’s List Movie Trailer

Read More : The Godfather

Top Cast

Schindler’s List Storyline

“Schindler’s List” is a powerful film set in Kraków during World War II, where the Nazis force local Polish Jews into the overcrowded Kraków Ghetto. Oskar Schindler, a German Nazi Party member seeking wealth, acquires a factory and employs Jewish workers. Initially motivated by profit and maintaining friendly relations with the Nazis, Schindler witnesses the brutality of the Holocaust, prompting a shift in his focus to saving lives.

As the SS, led by Amon Göth, intensifies their persecution, Schindler works to protect his workers, even bribing Göth to build a sub-camp at his factory. When the war turns against the Germans, Göth is ordered to send remaining Jews to Auschwitz. Schindler secures permission to move his workers to Brünnlitz, planning a munitions factory. With Stern’s help, they compile a list of 1,100 people spared from Auschwitz.

The story unfolds as the workers are transported, facing challenges like mistaken redirection to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Schindler’s efforts, including bribing Auschwitz’s commandant, ensure their release. In Brünnlitz, he protects the workers, avoiding production of usable armaments. However, as Germany surrenders, Schindler, a Nazi Party member, flees the advancing Red Army.

Despite his financial downfall post-war, Schindler persuades SS guards not to harm his Jewish workers. He bids them farewell, moved by a Talmudic quotation: “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” The liberated Schindlerjuden walk into the countryside as an epilogue reveals Göth’s execution for crimes against humanity and Schindler’s post-war struggles.

The film ends with a poignant scene at Schindler’s grave, visited by survivors and actors portraying them, emphasizing the impact of his heroic actions during a dark period in history.

Details

Box Office

• Budget
  • $22,000,000 (estimated)
• Gross US & Canada
  • $96,898,818
• Opening weekend US & Canada
  • $656,636
  • Dec 19, 1993
• Gross worldwide
  • $322,161,245

Technical spec

• Runtime2 hours 55 minutes
• Color
  • Color
• Sound mix
  • Mono
  • Dolby Digital
• Aspect ratio
  • 1.85 : 1

FAQs