Schindler's List

I think I'll become a movie reviewer. Now if only I could get the kind of money Roger Ebert does. But then again, I don't want to watch everything--just what I like. So the movie of the day is Schindler's List and here's my review:

If I had to describe this movie in one word, it would be “heart-wrenching.” Seeing visual images of something you know as historical fact is much more horrifying than just the knowledge. Realistically, I know there were much more horrific things that happened to the Jews than what was depicted in the film, but Spielberg shows sufficient injustice to drive the point home. I felt very angry at the treatment they received.
The transformation of Schindler from a partying, money-grubbing, self-centered man to a reluctantly compassionate protector of the Jews was brilliantly played by Liam Neeson. I was totally gleeful at the way he brain-washed Goeth into thinking of power in a totally different way even though he did shoot the boy trying to scrub his tub free of stains after all. Even Goeth was portrayed as having just a drop of humanity within his black heart in his feelings toward Helen Hirsch though he did a good job of denying himself of them. I think he truly thought that Jews were not real human beings and couldn’t understand his attraction to Helen. It does help me to comprehend the psyche of Germans involved in torturing the Jews, for dehumanizing makes it acceptable to the mind.
I cried at the end when Schindler was in such torment over not being able to save more Jews than he did. I can just imagine the agony he felt that he threw away lives at the cost of frivolous living. No movie could enforce that one person can make a significant difference any better than this one did. I just loved the ring the Jews gave him that said, “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” And to think they made that from the fillings in their teeth! Now that is truly meaning what you say.
Spielberg was brilliant to begin the movie in color then snuff it out via the candles of the Jewish ritual signaling the viewer that a darker time has come. It emphasizes the stark horror of the events. Then to have the turning point of Schindler’s mind-set hinge on the little girl in the red coat when everything else was in black and white represented the surge of hope and warmth into a cold world to me. Returning to color at the end with the homage to Schindler’s grave signified a return to a warmer, kinder world.
It was a wonderful touch to have the real characters and the actors who played them walk together to place a stone at the grave of Schindler. I didn’t catch on that the actors were walking with their characters until I saw the children so I had to rewind it and play it again.
Though it was difficult to watch some of the horrific scenes, I’m glad I chose this movie because I’ve always wanted to watch it. It is a good reminder that the ignorance of racism is dreadfully harmful.