Schindler’s List I can analyze and explain the historical and social impact and influence of a film.

THE POWER OF VISUAL HISTORY

Bellringer Watch the film montage & create the chart on your own paper. Film Montage for Schools

Steven Spielberg The world’s most commercially successful film maker. Perhaps best known for Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. As a Jewish filmmaker, this project was personal. Schindler’s List, 1993

Quote from Interview with Spielberg Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler and adapted from the book, Schindler’s Ark. The quote is about adapting the film from the novel. “The difficulty was what we could not use because we just did not have time to use it. . . . I had to . . . Find a way of taking the novel, and not so much distill it, but just find all the moments that moved me the most and were the most informative.”

Why Schindler’s List? Steven Spielberg, who directed Schindler’s List, comes from a Jewish family. Some of his relatives died in the Holocaust. The film was made to tell the story of Oskar Schindler. When Oskar Schindler died in 1974, he was penniless and almost unknown.   Schindler’s List made over $320 million worldwide. Schindler’s List tells a personal story rather than an overview. Schindler’s List won many awards, including seven Academy Awards and seven BAFTAs. Schindler’s List was made to help people understand what happened during the Holocaust. Steven Spielberg used the profits from Schindler’s List to set up the Shoah Foundation. The Shoah Foundation has brought together over 52,000 interviews with people who survived the Holocaust. Schindler’s List was based on a novel by Thomas Keneally called Schindler’s Ark. A Holocaust survivor, Poldek Pfefferberg, persuaded Keneally to write about Oskar Schindler. The novel is based on interviews with over fifty Jews who worked in Schindler’s factories.

As you watch the Spielberg interview, listen for the answers to these questions: Why did he make it? Why is it mostly in black and white? Does Spielberg agree that this film is entertainment? Interview View interview with Speilberg

Film Honors Seven Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture Seven British Academy Awards Best Picture Awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Society of Film Critics, the National Board of Review, the Producers Guild, the Los Angeles Film Critics, the Chicago, Boston and Dallas Film Critics Christopher Award Hollywood Foreign Press Association Golden Globe Awards

Who was Oscar Schindler? He was a German from Czechoslovakia Born in 1908 Raised as a Catholic There were Jews in his class at school He lived next door to a rabbi growing up Before the war, he was a small time salesman and not very successful

What kind of man was Schindler? People called him: A swindler “Der grosse Lebemann” (Emilie Schindler, his wife), “a man who loves to live life to its fullest.” Charming, vain, handsome, womanizer, alcoholic, flamboyant, gambler, risk taker Someone who likes to be the center of attention A playboy spy. Is he a hero? adapted from Schindler List website

The plot/story: Schindler’s motivation Point of some debate among the Schindler Jews. Some said he was an opportunist who saved the Jews because he was self-serving or because he loved to outwit the SS. Others believed his motivation was purely to save lives. But for most of the Schindler Jews, they simply know that he saved them and that is all that matters. Film critic, Roger Ebert, said it was to Spielberg’s credit that he never tries to answer this in the film, as the answer is not simple and “his life is a mystery.” Is he a hero?

The Change of Heart One survivor claims he witnessed Schindler’s change of heart. After seeing Goeth shoot two girls shortly before they died from hanging, Schindler got ill in front of everyone, turned to the survivor and stated that he would never work for the Germans again.

Schindler’s death He died at age 66 of a failed heart and liver. He was buried in Israel in 1974. His grave is shown in the film at the end.

“(the story of Oskar Schindler) … provides an avenue into a subject that is too horrendous for words, let alone for pictures” Steven Spielberg, 1993 Do you agree that learning about the Holocaust through the story of one person helps the viewer understand history?

Krakow The story takes place in Krakow. 26% of the population was Jewish. Shows the Krakow-Plaszow labor camp. In Krakow during the Holocaust, the Jews invited a wall around their ghetto to protect them from Polish citizens. Krakow was a bastion of Jewish culture, but also of anti-Semitism. The Jews thought of the walls as a fortress against anti-Semitism.

The Talent Critics felt the story was “brilliantly acted.” Liam Nelson—Oskar Schindler Ben Kingsley----Itzhak Stern Ralph Fennes----Amon Goeth Caroline Goodall----Emilie Schindler Embeth Davidtz----Helen Hirsch

The Film It took more than a decade to prepare to make the film due to personal interviews. The shooting of the film was done in actual locations. The interior and exterior of Schindler’s apartment. The interior and exterior of the prison. Almost every place was authentic. The Plaszow camp was recreated. The shot in Auschwitz had to be shot outside the gate because of resistance to having a film shot inside.

Complete your Film Analysis handout as you view.

Day 2

Bellringer Do you think filmmakers have a responsibility to teach us about history or is this left up to educators? Can a film teach you more than book? If so, how? If not, why not?

Historical and Social Implications Before the film’s success — in addition to the Oscar wins, it also grossed $321 million worldwide — schools generally only taught the Holocaust as an afterthought when teaching World War II. “The Holocaust was approached as an addendum when history teachers taught World War II,” according to James Jerry Clark, a St. Joseph’s University professor. After the film came out, the Holocaust became a topic all its own. People began to look at the Holocaust and focus lessons on values, judgment, decision-making, as well as history itself.

Schindler’s List-Social Implications “In a sense, the film became the educational equivalent of a gateway drug. Once people saw it, they wanted to learn more about what happened to the Jews during the war. And the teaching professionals who watched it became galvanized by the potential that oral histories and the humanizing element of storytelling presented.”—James Clark Not only did educators approach the Holocaust differently, but casual movie-goers where moved to find more information regarding the subject. The film has become a defining symbol of the Holocaust.

As you watch today, look for ways the following reveal social impact through this film.

Day 3

Bellringer Schindler’s List was made in black and white when it easily could have been made in color. Do you think this was the right cinematic choice? Why or why not?

Viewing As we finish the movie, complete your film analysis sheet. The film analysis sheet is your brainstorm your 3 questions for the Socratic.

History vs. the Film At the end of the war, Schindler had to flee because the Russians would have shot him without a trial. Some of his Jewish workers smuggled him out as a camp survivor. Unlike the film portrayal, however, he escaped in a Mercedes full of valuables. These were later looted and stripped from him and he arrived with nothing in the American zone.

Why was it made? With your elbow partner, discuss which arguments you find most convincing. It’s personal. Steven Spielberg, who directed Schindler’s List, comes from a Jewish family. Some of his relatives died in the Holocaust. To tell a story: The film was made to tell the story of Oskar Schindler. When Oskar Schindler died in 1974 he was penniless and almost unknown.   To make money: Schindler’s List made over $320 million worldwide. It was made to entertain. For the accolades: Schindler’s List won many awards, including seven Academy Awards and seven BAFTAs. Schindler’s List was made to help people to understand what happened during the Holocaust. To benefit others: Steven Spielberg used the profits from Schindler’s List to set up the Shoah Foundation. The Shoah Foundation has brought together over 52,000 interviews with people who survived the Holocaust.  The book was good: Schindler’s List was based on a novel by Thomas Keneally called Schindler’s Ark. A Holocaust survivor called Poldek Pfefferberg persuaded Keneally to write about Oskar Schindler and Spielberg to make a film based on the book. The novel is based on interviews with over fifty Jews who worked in Schindler’s factories.

Socratic In your discussion, make sure to discuss: Which arguments from the previous chart do you find most convincing? How does this film compare to other films we have seen so far? How does it use imagery and color? Why is this film important? Is the film successful in representing the Holocaust? Why or why not? Does this affect society and/or history? How is Schindler established as a character?

(Extension) Reflection:Characterization Watch the Spielberg interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAM5q837enk What inferences can you make about Spielberg’s opinion of Schindler? How does he reflect this in the film.

Exit Slip What other historical films should have been made in black and white instead of color? Do you think this would have made your film choice appear more realistic and impactful?

Extra Bellringer There is very little character dialogue in many scenes. How does this add to the realism of the film?   How does this movie compare to your previous concepts of the Holocaust? What is the same/different?