Schindler's List

Schindler’s List is a 1993 movie. This story is mainly about how Amon murdered and tortured Jews, and Oskar Schindler, a German entrepreneur who was instrumental in saving the lives of over one thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust. This is an interesting film despite the film is in the black and white version.

            Overall in the movie, Amon, an SS officer has impressed me with his evil and cruel personality. The moment he arrived in Krakow to initiate construction of a labour camp, Plaszow, and to take over control of the Ghetto, the bloody scenes began. He tends to kill people without any sympathy and empathy. When a Jewish engineer explains that a foundation has been improperly laid, and for this he has her shot in the head. I was so shocked by his unreasonable action. He killed those who did not work hard for him, and also those who are worthless. His evilness does not concern about the humanity but he cares more of his own profits. His selfishness and cold-bloodedness caused the death of many Jewish which he did not even care the feelings of those Jewish family members when they have lost the important one in life. His is not only taking pleasure in murdering and torturing, but he considers it is an integral part of his job. Amon did not kill Helen because he enjoys her sexually. At this point, I have thought of how realistic the society actually is, which the darkness and grey area in a society are more than the pureness.  

The moment when Oskar telling him that he kills and tortures people does not mean of having power but justice. People scared of him are not because of power, but justice. Oskar told him that, forgive people’s mistakes is the one who have real power to control. After this scene, I thought Amon will stop killing when I saw he forgives a young lady who nearly being killed by an Army because she smoked while she was working. His humanity does not remain long. When he decided not to shoot a young boy for did not clean his bathtub properly, but after reflecting, he decided to be firm to his stand, hence, he shoot him from the back when he was walking away. Amon is the worst person that I have ever seen; he has never taken life seriously. He has so much fun in killing people.

The second character who has impressed me with his good personality is Oskar Schindler. In all the Jewish heart, I believe he is a hero to those who have being saved by him in his list. Schindler was a cold-hearted businessman who is only interested in profit. After meeting with the girl in the red coat, he transformed into a good guy who covertly assisted his workers and save them from persecution. I always believe an individual will change when he or she meets with someone who can completely change his or her weaknesses into strengths. Through this scene, Schindler has become a hero among Jewish which his sacrifices have been appreciated by them. When Amon gave the order to destroy all killed bodies and ship the whole population to Auschwitz, Schindler prevails upon Goeth to let him keep his workers, so that he can move them to a factory in his old home of Zwittau-Brunnlitz. This list of "skilled" inmates was Schindler’s List, and for many of the inmates of Plaszow camp, being on the list meant the difference between life and death. Schindler saved 1000 of Jews life. I sympathised with those who have been saved by Schindler. They are lucky enough compared to those who died. At this point, I have to believe that, sometimes, life really depends on your luck instead of hard work.  

The most interesting part in this movie is when Schindler is celebrating his birthday, he kissed every lady. This is my first time to see a birthday man has such a great opportunity to kiss every woman in the party. Even though this is an old film, I was really shocked by their actions. I think I am more old fashion and tradition than this group of people which I cannot accept the fact that, a man can kiss every lady in a birthday party. I am curious if is it a kind of respect towards the birthday boy.