Essays on Movies (Films) - Stephen Spielberg's Schindler's List
"I know that the great tragedies of history often fascinate men with approaching
horror. Paralyzed, they cannot make up their minds to do anything but wait. So
they wait, and one day the Gorgon devours them, But I should like to convince
you that the spell can be broken, that there is an illusion of impotence, that
strength of heart, intelligence and courage are enough to stop fate and
sometimes reverse it." Albert Camus.
Albert Camus believes that the greatest tragedies of history are so
horrific that people stand in awe, and consequently, nobody even attempts to do
anything in response of the tragedies. Many are under “an illusion of impotence”
, and eventually, Camus states, “The Gorgon devours them”. Also, in order for
this “spell to be broken”, people must have “strength of heart, intelligence
and courage.” I believe that Albert Camus is correct, people are under a vale
of impotence when it comes to the tragedies of the world, and that people can
easily overcome this inability and reverse their fate, or let the “Gorgon”
devour them. Camus's beliefs can be proved through the use of examples from the
movie Schindler's List.
Oscar Schindler, the movie's main character, is, in the beginning of the
movie, not actually aware of the full extent of the killing of Jews and the
powerful anti-Semitic outlook of his comrades. His ties relating to the affairs
of the Nazi party and his loyalty to his country shield him from this knowledge.
Thus, it can be concluded that in the beginning of the movie Schindler does not
fully grasp the tragedy at hand, and consequently does nothing attempt to aid
the Jews. Shindler's realizations of the horrors of the holocaust begin in one
scene near the middle of the film. During this infamous turning point of the
movie, Schindler, on top of a barren hill, traces the path of a young and
helpless Jewish girl who wanders haphazardly through the streets of a devastated
camp. In a red trench-coat-coat, nowhere to go, desperately searching for her
two parents, the little girl finally wanders into an abandoned building where
she is safe from the chaotic world outside. Her safety is only temporary, for
later she will be hunted down and cold heartily murdered, forgotten to the world,
destroyed by her own people, asking in wonderment, why do I deserve such
punishment?
This scene is the point at which Schindler becomes infuriated, and he
asks himself why, and most importantly, what he could do to stop the massacre.
Emilie and Oscar first met in 1928 when Oscar was selling electric motors on the door of her father’s farmhouse in Alt Moletein. Six weeks later, they were married on March 6 1928 on the outskirts of Oscar’s hometown, Zwittua. In the 1930s, Oscar Schindler was unemployed and joined the Nazi party because he saw the possibilities which the war brought. He followed on the heels of the SS when Germany invaded Poland. He left Emilie in Zwittua and invaded a Jewish family’s apartment in Crakow. He to control of a Jewish-owned enamelled-goods factory, close to the Jewish ghetto.
Ronald Wilson Reagan served two terms as the 40th president of the United States of America. Reagan was known for having a strong faith in the goodness of people. In college he was known as, “the jack of all trades” for excelling in everything he did (“Life Before the Presidency”). President Reagan’s beliefs gave him lots of respect from citizens around the world. One of his main beliefs was that peace comes with strength. I believe that Ronald Reagan was a great president because of his leadership qualities, domestic policies, and foreign policies.
I must say that this film is very traumatizing. There are some images in this film that will be burned and scarred into my mind for as long as I live. I have seen many holocaust films, but no one was as near as dramatic and depicting as Night and Fog. However I did like the theme of this movie. It is very sad but yet realistic. Our minds are murky and dull. We tend to only remember the important situation in our lives. Yet we don’t remember the importance of our own history. I say OUR history be cause we all are human beings on this earth. Whether we believe in Allah, Jesus, Jehovah, or whatever higher power, we are all one race, and that the human race. It is very sad to know that human beings were treated and slaughtered just because of an ideology of superiority complex. Al though the Jewish people were massacred I learned that we must always keep a sense of hope in order to assure our own survival. When I saw in the movie the moments where there were journals that read about favorite foods and important dates, my heart was filled with sadness. Not because these victims didn’t have this to eat but because of the false illusions that they had to dream in order to stay sane.
Managing to save 1,200 Jews. This quote also shows courage because at his own expense he provided his Jewish employees with the life sufficient diet they needed unlike the Nazis did. Secondly, Schindler didn't want to sneak away the jews he only wanted to make a hoax for the Nazis. He wanted the Nazis to believe that he was helping them with the German war effort but really he was trying to save the Jewish community from final liquidation. The narrator describes, “He only wanted to keep the hoax up long enough to survive the war” (2). this quote demonstrates how Schidler stands up to the German command to help out the Jewish community without getting himself in the line at danger but still manages to save 1,200 Jews. He also demonstrates courage because if he got busted for what he is doing he would be imprisoned or even
...s of economic and political initiatives that became known as "the Reagan revolution." His accomplishments of winning the Cold War without firing a shot, recovering the American economy known as Reaganomics and his “Star Wars” predicament, his two terms during presidency did not go unseen. He restored the traditional spirit of can-do optimism to the American people, making him a President that cannot be forgotten.
There are certain groups of people that cause these events to happen. Because of them there are people living in denial and people that are being ostracized every day. They do this because they are afraid that if they do not go along with what the majority does their will be reprisal. Everyone wants to believe that people are basically good in nature. But with the events that occurred in the film it is easy to see that people are easily influenced and would rather go along with the group then stand out and make a difference. Most people think that one person cannot make a difference. If more people would have taken a stand, then quite possibly more Jewish people would have been saved. One person does make a difference, Oskar Schindler proved that.
Many Americans have watered down the Depiction of Jewish oppression during Nazi reign to swift easy round up into concentration camps. What Quentin Tarantino and the Jewish film community wanted to illustrate through this film is how this is an incorrect overgeneralization. Inglourious Basterds illustrates more realistic Jewish life during Nazi reign and the constant terror they faced. This oppression was far more personal, intimate, and cordial yet brutal altercations invoked through self-defense and hatred. This film illustrates this internal oppression and revolt through schemes, interrogations, threats, and abrupt violence.
Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief (2005), and Steven Spielberg, director of Schindler’s List (1993), both use their works to portray the theme of racism in Nazi-era Germany. Racism today affects millions of people daily, with 4.6 million people being racial discrimination in Australia alone. However, in Nazi-era Germany, Jewish people were discrimination because they weren’t part of the ‘master race’, causing millions to suffer and be killed. To explore this theme, the setting, characters, conflicts and symbols in both The Book Thief and Schindler’s List will be analysed and compared.
Nevertheless Bush made some staggeringly important contributions to the international arena and is deeply respected for his part in world events where there is every reason to suspect that Reagan would not have been.
I think Schindler has an epiphany in the movie “Schindler’s list” when he sees the little girl the red coat burned alive. I think this is the point in the movie where Schindler really changes his mindset and begins to start saving the Jews.
Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List is based on Oskar Schindler’s life during World War II and how he saved over 12,000 Jewish people’s lives. Spielberg uses diegetic and non-diegetic sound, camera angles and shots, motifs and limited colour to create tension within the film. Tension would build in three specific scenes that also had an emotional impact on the audience. The Liquidation of the Ghetto created tension by the soldiers talking in German throughout the scene. The Little Girl in the Red Coat created tension by adding colour and having her walk through the chaos going unnoticed. Finally Auschwitz created tension by using camera angles and string instruments.
feels he must turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. By doing so he
From the first moment of Schindler's List to the very last, you will be amazed by the strength and resilience of the Jewish people during this horrendous time in their history. You will witness and feel their pain and horror in this very graphic, yet painfully true story. Steven Speilberg deserves all of the awards this film had brought him. It is a time in history we should never forget and pray that we will never witness again.
During the occupation of the Krakow Ghetto, Jews were being separated into “essential” and “non-essential” categories. Individuals selected for the “non-essential” category were to be shipped off to concentration camps. Originally completed by a Jewish accountant recruited by Schindler, “non-essential” workers were being designated as “essential” workers for Schindler’s business. Realizing he was unknowingly hiring unfit employees, Schindler berated the accountant for devising the plan and jeopardizing his profits. This incident is where Schindler is faced with his first ethical dilemma; by taking away the employment of unfit individuals, he is sentencing them to certain death, but if he allows them to remain, he is endangering future profits. By allowing the unqualified employees to stay, viewers can see a shift in his inner workings, and also a light is shown on his humanity. Furthermore, his reputation for forgiveness and mercy begins to bud, as does his slow separation from Nazi Party
Motivation is the force that transforms and uplifts people to be productive and perform in their jobs. Maximizing employee’s motivation is a necessary and vital to successfully accomplish the organization’s targets and objectives. However, this is a considerable challenge to any organizations managers, due to the complexity of motivation and the fact that, there is no ready made solution or an answer to what motivates people to work well (Mullins,2002).