Schindler: Oskar Schindler and Steven Spielberg Essay

Submitted By bronturnbull
Words: 836
Pages: 4
Open Document
The movie Schindler's List, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a historical drama depicting a story of the life of Oskar Schindler who was a German businessman who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during WWII. The Films influence, was for the exposure of the horrific sacrifice of the Jews during the Holocaust, and this was not just reflected through the plot and story line, but also heavily portrayed through imagery and symbolism, capturing the ultimate viewers emotional and subconscious, giving emphasis to feelings of empathy, humanity and purpose.
The first scene of the movie, Schindler’s List, begins with a close-up of people’s hands lighting a pair of candles, followed by the sound of a Jewish prayer. This scene, was only one of the very few color scenes in the film, and the scene closes as the flames of the candle go out. A trail of smoke from the burnt out candles flames fades into the next scene, and the movie turns into black and white. The use of this imagery, initiated my sense of intrigue and established a solemn mood within my understanding, as it built anticipation.
The movie was set in Poland following the collapse of the Polish army, and at the beginning of the German occupation. Oskar Schindler, arrives in the city looking to open a factory in order to gain profits from the war. The character of Schindler is betrayed as a callous man, who is compassionate and caring. Schindler’s factory became a safe haven for the Jews.
Steven Spielberg the director of the film, used music, camera angles and symbolism, to replace dialogue throughout the film, to emphasis the message and purpose of the plot. It was intriguing watching this film from an analytical perspective as I really noticed and documented the importance of how the director used sounds and colour to make significant points of a movie. Within these scenes there was also emphasis on close ups and facial expressions to show the significance of emotion of the characters of the film, and allowing myself, as the viewer to connect with these emotions on a personal level.
This technique also allowing there to be less dialogue, and more personal perspective and opinion, as the characters facial expressions, would tell a thousand words, without speech. An example of this is the scene, where Shcindler is placed in jail for kissing Jewish girl, he and the girl are made fun of by the other inmates, who are laughing and trying to make the situation humorous, however the camera zooms in on Schindlers face, which shows an unimpressed expression, providing an insight into his respectful humanistic personality.

The girl in the red coat, was one of the most important scenes in the movie, when talking about purpose, context and film techniques. The reason that I believe this scene was so important was this was one of the few times, colour was used again in the film, and after watching minutes of black and white it provided a unique contrast. In this scene Oskar Schindler is standing on top of a hill and they are looking at all of the Jewish murders below. A
Show More

Related Documents: Schindler: Oskar Schindler and Steven Spielberg Essay

Influence Of Money In Schindler

Award winning film “Schindlers List” directed by Steven Spielberg is a must see film about World War profitierOskar Schindler who ended up saving 1100 Jews. Oskar Schindler has made decisions influenced by money, shown by lighting,by a change of personality with camera shota and by the Nazi regime shown with dialogue. Oskar Schindler is influenced by money to make money in the beginning. Steven Spielberg shows the influencing with lighting techniques on the money. The scene at the restaurant near…

Words 427 - Pages 2

Schindler's List Comparison

barely remarkable similarity form the core of this story, one a lowly con man and the other of a sociopathic murderer. Despite their differences, Oskar Schindler taking advantage of third Reich and Amon Goeth being a Nazi idealist with a penchant for brutal atrocities, both characters are created by their different circumstances during the war. Oscar’s Schindler was mostly unsuccessful with any business venture before and after the war but used the war as a cover to con the government. Despite the fact…

Words 1478 - Pages 6

Little Girl in Red Essay example

smoke of a train. The shift in color connotes a shift in time, from present to past. The news flashes in black and white. So does the World War II footage. The violin cord strikes.... Through these plays on colors, contrast, and sound, Steven Spielberg achieves cinematographic excellence in his award winning movie, Schindler’s list. There’s no questioning the fact that it is indeed one of the most iconic American films ever made. It’s a monumental masterpiece that's chock full of emotionally…

Words 1381 - Pages 6

Schindler's List Analysis

the 1993 film Schinders List directed by Steven Spielberg. The Holocaust was a terrible event that occured and Oskar Schindler underwent a change that led to the salvation 1,200 Jews. He was an exellent man towards the end of the war and the movie did an amazing job of portraying the issues involved in the Holocaust. This movie really opened up my eyes and started to make me realize that there was good in the Holocaus The 27th of Febuary, I watched Schindlers List, from begining to end, and it was…

Words 739 - Pages 3

Schindlers List Movie Essay

U.S. History Movie Project Movie Title: Schindler’s List Date of production: Dec 15, 1993 Studio: Universal Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production Director: Steven Spielberg Historical Event: The Holocaust Approx. dates: Sept 1939 – May 1945 4. Plot/characters/messages- Oskar Schindler, a German businessman in Poland who see's an opportunity to make money from the Nazis' rise to power. He starts a company to make cookware and utensils, using flattery and bribes to win…

Words 392 - Pages 2

Schindler's List: Understanding The Holocaust

then and now in your life? Often we look to where evil begins, but do not take the time to examine where good starts. Good started with Itzhak Stern and later with Oskar Schindler. Good can start with you right now also. Itzhak Stern demonstrated great bravery in all that he did. We could say that Bravery Started with Him. Oskar Schindler, unlike Goeth, had compassion that led to the actions to save so many from certain death. We could say that Compassion Started with Him. Now think of your own life…

Words 1006 - Pages 5

How Did Oskar Schindler Survive

Oskar Schindler and other Wartime Rescuers During the Holocaust, there was a few people who went against the grain and tried to save and protect jewish people, one man in particular save over a thousand Jews. Oskar Schindler was a wealthy buisman who originally was an advocate for the Nazi party. He began to hire Jews as cheap labor but as an underlining reason saved many of them from having to go into Concentration Camps. Schindler’s List directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 1993 and exposed…

Words 1676 - Pages 7

Schindler's List Essay

Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg, features a Nazi businessman Oskar Schindler who goes to Krakow in 1939, in hopes to start a company of his own. He hires only Jewish workers due to the fact that they can be paid significantly less than any other Polish workers. Schindler forges fake work permits to acquire as many Jews a possible to work for him, skill or no skill. He believes that he is just in it for the money until one of his worker, a one armed man, is shot for not being ‘essential’…

Words 735 - Pages 3

Essay about schendlers list

Scheduler’s list Released in 1993, scheduler’s is a film that tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saves the lives of over a thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust in World War II. This film portrays many themes, all of which are evoked due to the factual historical event of the Jewish Holocaust which occurred in Germany during WWII. The exploration of the themes of hope, use and misuse of power, the nature of evil and courage makes this film prominent over others. Spielberg’s…

Words 376 - Pages 2

The Schindler's List

The Schindler’s List is Steven Spielberg’s award-winning film, which illustrates the profoundly horrendous Holocaust. It reconstructs a dark, fearsome period during World War II, when Nazi-occupied Kraków first dispossessed Jews of their businesses and homes, then coerced them into ghettos and labor camps in Plaszów and finally resettled in concentration camps for execution. It is quite petrifying to think how far the Nazis were able to go with their murderous ideology, which is the primary component…

Words 1648 - Pages 7