The film that was described by Steven Spielberg as “the most important” he has ever made is now on Amazon Prime.
This World War 2 classic, often dubbed the best of the genre, tells the true story of a German industrialist who, initially motivated by profit, uses his factory and position within the Nazi party to save over 1,100 Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
In Schindler’s List (1993), Oskar Schindler (played by Liam Neeson), a Czech-born businessman, arrives in Krakow, Poland in 1939 and joins the Nazi party to advance his business interests.
He then acquires an enamelware factory and, with the help of his Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), hires Jewish workers, initially for the profit they represent. But, as the Nazis begin the systematic persecution and extermination of Jews, Schindler witnesses the horrors firsthand.
Witnessing the suffering of his Jewish workers, Schindler realizes the true nature of the Nazi regime and decides to risk his life and fortune to save them.
The film’s stellar cast also includes Ralph Fiennes as concentration camp commandant Amon Göth and Caroline Goodall as the title character’s wife Emilie Schindler – who played a central role in helping her husband save Jewish lives.
Lauded by many as one of the most powerful films in history, Schindler’s list was well-received by the Jewish community after release, with some community leaders thanking Spielberg, and holocaust survivors expressing gratitude for the representation the film was bringing to their past.
On the technical side, the performances of Neeson, Fiennes, Kingsley, and Davidtz earned critical praise, and the movie’s black-and-white documentary approach was also seen positively.
Additionally, notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey and former USA president Bill Clinton have recommended Schindler’s List as an essential watch, and the Vatican has included it in its list of 45 important films.
Schindler’s List has an approval of 98% on film reviewing platform Rotten Tomatoes, where critical consensus reads: “Schindler’s List blends the abject horror of the Holocaust with Steven Spielberg’s signature tender humanism to create the director’s dramatic masterpiece”.
It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards in 1994, and won seven of them: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Art Director. The film has also won multiple BAFTAs and Golden Globes.
Schindler’s List is now available for streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video.