One of the most anticipated re-released films in film history has got to be that of "Schindler's List". This is the 25th anniversary of its release in 1993 which is director, Steven Spielberg's most personal film to date. It was so personal that it was reported that before principal photography was to begin, the cast would be required to, in full costume, break bread together. Spielberg mentioned, where else would one ever see SS Nazi officers and Jewish people breaking bread? Excellent point.
Based on a true story, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, a greedy German businessman in Poland who sees an opportunity to make money from the Nazi's rise to power. He starts a company to make cookware and utensils, using flattery and bribes to win military contracts, and brings in accountant and financier Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley) to help run the factory. By staffing his plant with Jews who've been herded into Krakow's ghetto by Nazi troops, Schindler has a dependable unpaid labor force. For Stern, a job in a war-related plant could mean survival for himself and the other Jews.
Through these events, Schindler becomes an unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric German Nazi rein, who manages to save approximately 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The message to this is that even though Schindler was a shrewd businessman, this story is a testament to the good in all of us.
Others to round out the cast are Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth, Caroline Goodall as Emilie Schindler, Oskar's wife, Jonathan Sagalle as Poldek Pfefferberg, Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch, Malgoscha Gebel as Wiktoria Klonowska, Shmuel Levy as Wilek Chilowicz, Mark Ivanir as Marcel Goldberg, Beatrice Macola as Ingrid, Andrzej Seweryn as Julian Scherner, Friedrich Von Thun as Czurda, Krzysztof Luft as Herman Toffel, Harry Nehring as Leo John and Norbert Weisser as Albert Hujar.
This was brilliantly directed by veteran Steven Spielberg ("Duel" (TV movie) '71, "Jaws" '75, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" '81, "The Color Purple" '85, "Empire of the Sun" '87, "Jurassic Park" '93, "The Lost World" Jurassic Park" '97, "Saving Private Ryan" '98, "The Terminal" '04, "Munich" '05, "War Horse" '11, "Lincoln" '12, "The Post" '17, "Ready Player One" '18) plus many more. Every time I watch a Spielberg film, I feel like I'm watching people living their lives instead of a film, because the characters simply come to life and the realism of the characters are amazing. What amazes me is that this filmmaker is a natural, especially since his earlier films have been directed with such delineation that he was born to direct. I'm truly excited to see his version of "West Side Story" which is in pre-production at this present time. It was equally well written by Steven Zaillian ("The Falcon and the Snowman" '85, "Jack the Bear" '93, "Clear and Present Danger" '94, "A Civil Action" '98, "Gangs of New York" '02, "All the King's Men" '06, "Moneyball" '11, "Exodus: Gods and Kings" '14) plus others, based on the book by Thomas Keneally. Even though this writer only had three films to his credit before this film was released, his ability to transcribe this incredible story to the screen was accomplished with such painstaking realism along with poignancy that it made it a tough film to get through. Of course, Janusz Kaminski's cinematography certainly helped create that stark reality, but it was only able to be done considering the consummate script Kaminski had to work with. With this film, Zaillian certainly has proved himself time and again if his resume means anything. In fact, his "The Irishman" is in post production as I'm writing this. Cinematically, this film was amazing: the powerful direction and writing, Kaminski's crisp photography, John Williams haunting score, even Michael Kahn's well-crafted editing, not to mention amazing visual effects by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic), this film has got to be one of the 20th century's best films.
This film should be taught in high schools as a history lesson of how we can be so callous to our fellow men and women and not even realize we are. This is a tough film to watch, but a much needed one for anyone past the age of 17. It is rated R mostly for the incredible point blank gun shots in the head and other violence, but these are all there because this is how hateful and violent bigotry can be and is. This is not a warm and fuzzy feeling film and was not meant to be, but rather an expose of how we, as a society, are not to be like. This is a limited release, so try and see this ASAP and bring a half a box of Kleenex with you.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 190mins.
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