Best War Movies: 4. Schindler's List

07 October 2008

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Next in our countdown of cinema's best war movies is Steven Spielberg's epic World War II Holocaust drama Schindler's List, which is based on a true story.

Unrepentant womaniser and war profiteer Oskar Schindler uses Polish Jews as cheap labour to produce cookware for the Third Reich.

But after witnessing the violent liquidation of the walled ghetto where the Krakow Jews have been forced to live, Schindler slowly begins to realize the immense evil of Nazism.

When his employees are sent to a work camp, they come under the terrorizing reign of sadistic Nazi Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes).

With the help of his accountant, Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), Schindler creates a list of "essential" Jews. Bribing Goeth, Schindler manages to get 1,100 people released from the camp and brought to the safety of his munitions factory in Czechoslovakia.

Over the years Spielberg has brought us movies about aliens and sharks but Schindler's List is possibly the most frightening movie that he has ever made as he delivers a movie that shows the brutality of the Nazi regime.

Despite being most famous for his blockbuster, big budget movies the director once again, after Empire of the Sun, has shown that he can handle controversial subjects with sophistication as well as sensitivity as he proves that he knew the line he was walking with such a delicate topic.

What is perhaps so interesting and troubling about this film is it's not about life during warfare it doesn't look at the experiences of soldiers on the front line but instead shows the impact that war had on the lives of so many people.

And the director doesn't shy away from the truth shot predominately in black and white the whole tone of the film oozes brutality and cruelty which, at times, is difficult to watch and is devastatingly emotional.

Schindler's List, which was a critical and commercial hit, was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Neeson, went on to win Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg.

Already considered a masterpiece the film will remain culturally and historically important for many years and is a film that every school child should see.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw