Schindler's List

Director Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed “Schindler’s List” is marked as one of the greatest movies of all time. Since it’s release in December 1993, “Schindler’s List” has made it to the tops of many “Best of” lists.  Set in Nazi occupied Poland, the story follows German businessman Oskar Schindler, played by Irish actor Liam Neeson (Taken, The Dark Knight) as he tries to save his Jewish workers from impeding fate Jews in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Spielberg portrays the events in black and white. The film in black and white gives it a 'timeless' feel. For example, movies in color can diminish in the picture quality. Just think of movies like Ben Hur,The Ten Commandments and Cleopatra and although epic at the time, look dated to us now. 

For cinematic appeal Spielberg splits to actors reciting the actual names of the list made by Schindler. The film emphasizes the importance of the endurance and survival of the real-life Shindlerjuden or "Schindler's Jews". The closing of the film shows the Shindlerjuden accompanied by the actors who played them placing rocks on the tombstone of the real life Oskar Schindler, a jewish custom of reverence and peace.

Finally, the best part of the movie (besides the wonderful acting of Ralph Fiennes as the epitome of Nazi-evil, Amon Goth) is the score composed by John William (Star Wars, JFK, Indiana Jones) with Special guest Itzhak Perlman.

Schindler's List, based on the book Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally about the experiences of Poldek Pffeferberg, a Schinderjuden. Whether the experiences of Mr. Pffeferberg are biased, well-founded or fiction, there is a deep cultural resonance for the Jewish community.

Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) relating the news of liberation to his Jewish workers.