Critique of the Movie Schindlers List

An imagination of the holocaust triggers a lot of memories in many people. Being an occurrence in a distant past makes it impossible to encounter people who experienced this horrific occurrence in the world. As it is commonly put, the quality of history depends on how and who narrates it. Schindlers List is one of the many movies that depict the occurrences during the holocaust. An extensive analysis of this film lands an individual into an understanding that the history books have left out so many significant incidences that, possibly, could have changed the way people view the holocaust holistically. Based on a deep and aided understanding, this paper takes a critical analysis of some occurrences in the holocaust as depicted in the movie Schindlers List.

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The Ending Scene

The ending scene is characterized with a mixture of emotions. Predictably, it indicates the end of the genocide. In as much as people are still suffering from the pain of losses that they incurred in the course of the war, they as well show signs of happiness at the to the end of the genocide. The protagonist, Schindler, shows glimpses of smiles in a lot of casts in the last scene to indicate his satisfaction with the allied victory. The workers are as well joined in the happiness when they come to end of the war. There, however, are few glances of melancholy. Schindler has to move away from Allies. Leaving the workers with whom they have passed obstacles in the course of the war seems to be a challenge to him. The same happens to the prisoners who, on top having memories of losing fellow members in the course of the genocide, are as well surprised with the eminent exile of Schindler.

The last scene begins with Schindler taking a preparation to flee from Allies. Schindler Jude hands over a gold ring, that is primarily made from gold fillings, that is engraved in with the quotation from the Jewish book of law, Talmud. After the victory by the allied forces, a lot of people were seen as having played a wrong role in the war. Schindler happened to be one of those people who threw himself on the line to protect the lives of the Jewish. As such, even in what is seen to have been good intention by Schindler was seen differently by the authorities who in turn wanted to incarcerate him.

After noticing that Schindler will have to leave Allies at in escape from the authority, the workers decide to make him a ring. The ring is used as a symbol of appreciation for what Schindler has done for their survival. In a deeper understanding, the ring stands for the resourceful future after a turbulent present. In as much as the gold ring could not repay the gift of life, in presentation by Stern, Schindler is made to understand that he has saved humanity from genocide and not necessarily workers. There is a flash-forward of Schindler is given to the audience after having driven off in the disguise of a prisoner. The ultimate end of the film depicts the real Schindler placing rock. At the end of the film, the audience has the feeling that the holocaust really occurred, tragedy exists and whatever occurs in the lives of humans can never be deleted from the memories of the society.

Depiction of the real characters at the end of the scene is as well significant to the major theme of the movie. On top of telling the audience how the holocaust occurred in reality, the scene in color critically embeds the message that the holocaust left survivors who would then tell the stories and keep the memories stuck in the society. The very last image of the movie is a close up of Jewish headstones, which translate into a change of era. People are moved from a dark period to a lovely prosperous future.

Girl in Red Coat Scene

Girl in red coat scene is one of the most moving images of the movie. In a movie that is characterized with iconic black and white colors, the scene depicting the girl in a red coat is in color- one of the four color images of the entire movie. The attention of the viewer is immensely attracted to the sight of a young blonde girl who has been overlooked by the Nazi troops and is left wandering in panic, fear and horror. The red coat draws the girl into imaginations, even when she is just one of the a hundred people who are cast in a wide shot. Just as the audience is attracted to the little girl, so is the protagonist.

Schindler comes to notice of the little girl when a woman is shot right in front of her. It is from this point that Schindler follows on every step of the little girl. Alone and aimless, the girl makes her way through a lot of people. At some point, she is viewed through the middle of the Nazi soldiers. Humility and innocence, in the image of the girl, are walking through the Nazi soldiers who cannot take even a little notice of it. This sight traumatizes Schindler who comes to note that the Nazis are acting exclusively out of the orders of their superiors.

The girl in the red coat is talked about just as much as people talk about the significance of the movie. Part of this attention is based on the fact that the red coat is let out so conspicuous that the viewer has to notice it; before finally questioning what really it stands for in the occurrence of the holocaust or the Jewish culture primarily. To Schindler, the girl in red coat represents the murder of the innocent individuals in the course of the genocide.

Firstly, the color red was very significant in some aspects of this film. At the arrival of the allied forces, in the Second World War, the Jewish were depicted as waving a red flag to alert their rescuers of their locations. Ultimately, the rescuers come their way. This may translate into the conspicuous nature of the red color that it could be noticed even from a far. It is so unfortunate that the little girl is found to have been killed and dumped at a pile of dead Jewish bodies. The death of the girl in red coat symbolizes the death of innocence. The Nazi soldiers spared nobody out of their bullets. Innocent children, old people, the sick as well as the young and energetic were killed out of the bullets of the Nazi soldiers. This happened even when the soldiers had the option to spare the lives of young and harmless children in their midst.

Schindler is depicted to have noted the young girl in red coat both in grief and surprise. How could they kill a child so young and harmless? the sight of the pile of dead bodies, and more significantly, the girl in the red coat, came with a change of mind by the protagonist. This was the turning point on Schindlers understanding of the fights. In his imaginations, Schindler saw ruthless, careless and inhumane Nazi fighters. Ultimately, he was left with no other option but to join in the fight with workers and anyone who could assist in the fight against the Nazi fighters.

The scene with the girl in red coat is engraved in a lot of significant features that combine to communicate the emotions of this scene. Shades of grey atmosphere, filth and a chaotic environment are all manifest in the context of this scene. The film then compliments the context with subtle but painful tunes that honestly are begging for the unseen helping hands. The arrival of Schindler at the end of this scene depicts the future that this sight is craving for- a fight for humanity.

In the development of the plot, depiction of the girl in red coat anchors a lot of significance. Normally, movies create a standout event that roots the depiction of the major theme. It is at some of these points that the viewer gets their optimum thrill out of the films. The main theme in the movie Schindlers List is a show of how the power of a singular individual can ultimately create a difference to a stinging problem. Schindler appears at the scene with normality and maintenance of the status quo all written on his face. The experience of this scene however arrives with all the changes. Definitely, the red coated girls scene goes out as the apex of this film and a call for reaction.

The Power Scene

Aaron Voldermort and Schindler at one point are broiled into argument about what power really is. From their words it is evident that both men have different understanding of the concept of power. Just like in the contemporary world, people understand the concept of power from different spots of understanding. The difference between Schindler and Voldermort is however rooted deeper into their respective personalities in the film. As Schindler comes out as a kind individual who would put his life on line to save other people, Voldermort is depicted as a brave, strong, wicked and ruthless individual who views life in a very different perspective all together.

Voldermort, who is a German prison leader in the film, is has a chat with Schindler in one of the scenes of the movie. During their conversation, Voldermort enquires if Schindler drinks alcohol. Schindler replies by stating that he does not drink alcohol with a basic reason that drinking alcohol limits the power of an individual. It is at this point that Voldermort describes power as when we have every justification to kill. From Schindlers point of view, just having a mere power to kill other people who at one point could be wrong a doer does not translate to power.

Further, Schindler questions Voldermorts understanding of the concept of justice. It is the role of justice to get rid of the wrong doers in the society and never should power be employed in place of justice in the society, according to Schindler. According to him therefore, if a man commits a crime, he is a worthless man to the society. Normally, justice will dictate various forms of punishment to such a wrong doer- including killing. However, power comes when an individual may come out to forgive another who has committed crime; let them go free after pleading for mercy. In as much as Voldermort could be right about his understanding of power, Schindler lays out his argument with precision, which makes him an easy winner in this argument.

The power scene is one of the few scenes of the movie with very light touch on emotions. In as much as tensions can be read from the wordings of the characters, they are not intense enough to communicate what really is going on in the context. At some point, the audience is brought into realism in the power scene. In the normal life, a life without killings, people are prone to arguments and viewing issues through different lenses. The calm mood of this scene makes the emotions flexible and relaxed almost in a similar course. For once, the imaginations of a viewer are stuck in real life in this scene.

Conclusion

Schindlers List communicates more than history has told. The intense emotions in the girl with red coat scene, the mixture of emotions in the end scene and the touch of normality in the power scene make this film one of the very few films with the capability of exploiting almost every inch of the emotions of its viewers. Critically, the entire film cannot be assumed to be holistic in capturing the entire occurrences in the holocaust; however, they are enough in giving a summary of this unforgettable ordeal in the history of humans.