Schindler's List (1993)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Keneally (book)
Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 December 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.

Plot:

Oskar Schindler uses Jews to start a factory in Poland during the war. He witnesses the horrors endured by the Jews, and starts to save them.

Plot Keywords:

Womanizer | War Crime | Occupied Nation | Righteous Among The Nations | Character's Point Of View Camera Shot

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 63 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Liam Neeson	...	Oskar Schindler
Ben Kingsley	...	Itzhak Stern
Ralph Fiennes	...	Amon Goeth
Caroline Goodall	...	Emilie Schindler
Jonathan Sagall	...	Poldek Pfefferberg (as Jonathan Sagalle)
Embeth Davidtz	...	Helen Hirsch
Malgoscha Gebel	...	Wiktoria Klonowska
Shmuel Levy	...	Wilek Chilowicz (as Shmulik Levy)
Mark Ivanir	...	Marcel Goldberg
Béatrice Macola	...	Ingrid
Andrzej Seweryn	...	Julian Scherner
Friedrich von Thun	...	Rolf Czurda
Krzysztof Luft	...	Herman Toffel
Harry Nehring	...	Leo John
Norbert Weisser	...	Albert Hujar

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence.

Runtime:

195 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | German | Polish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Finland:K-14 (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Brazil:12 (DVD re-rating) | Finland:K-13 (re-rating) | Malaysia:(Banned) (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Malaysia:18PL (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Auschwitz, Poland

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Swiss actor Bruno Ganz was sought to play the role of Oskar Schindler, but turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening sequence when Schindler is preparing for the party (dressing up, getting money) the shape of his hands (and nails) differs from shot to shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[a Hebrew prayer is chanted, followed by a flashback to 1940s Poland]
Krakow registrar: Name?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Munich: The International Cast (2006) (V)

Spielberg's greatest achievement

Thomas Keneally's bestselling book (which is on my bookshelf still waiting for me to get to it) was made into a movie of awesome power and emotional impact. Oskar Schindler was a Catholic war profiteer during World War II. He initially prospered because he went along with the Nazi regime and did not challenge it. But Schindler ultimately saved the lives of more than 1,000 Polish Jews by giving them jobs in his factory, which turned out crockery for the German army. Schindler lost his wealth, but gained salvation for many lives and the descendants that would spring from those lives.

The movie was made in Poland, and incorporates authentic locations. The look of the movie, primarily in grainy black and white, reminds us that we truly are watching history. Despite the movie's considerable length, it is never slow or dull. It is hard to believe that Hollywood, which so often churns out mindless drivel aimed at making money, could produce something so important and powerful as this film.

Much credit is due to the three main actors -- Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ben Kingsley as his Jewish accountant (and, on occasion, Schindler's conscience), and Ralph Fiennes as the frightening Nazi commandant. The film won seven Oscars, but its best accomplishment may be reminding us that we must never forget what happened.