Being one of the most prominent stories ever filmed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List demonstrates a precise sequence of historical events which took place during the Holocaust. What is special about the film is that all the people and places correspond to reality, and the majority of events and dialogues were reconstructed by adding fictional elements to the missing parts. The director states that the bond between actuality and fiction is fascinating, which implies that even some made-up details can barely be distinguished from the real ones (Keneally 7). The narrative technique is peculiar because it aimed to encompass multiple stories about miscellaneous people and display them through Schindler’s outlook. Intertwining the character’s sketches and the protagonist’s speeches allows the audience to perceive some peculiarities of those times better. Therefore, the entire story lacks exaggeration and provides a documentary perspective.
Spielberg portrays all the characters without idealism since he wanted a viewer to observe those tragic fates and events. For instance, he depicted the protagonist Oskar Schindler as a drinker and womanizer. While trying to portray the main character, Spielberg aimed to avoid extra details and demonstrated only the most significant events of his lifetime. In addition, the life of each person in the film is unique and provides a deeper understanding of why people lived that way. Their actions were portrayed through the prism of harsh reality, which means that sometimes there were no happy endings or salvations. Using different run-down and abandoned locations for filming, Spielberg managed to transfer the rough mood to the spectators. Besides, the director shot most of the scenes using hand-held cameras to make it look more like a timeless documentary.
Work Cited
Keneally, Thomas. Schindler’s List. Washington Square Press, 1993.