Schindler’s List (1993)

Last updated:
August 20, 2025

Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is not just a film—it’s a haunting, masterfully crafted historical drama that portrays the horrors of the Holocaust through the lens of one man’s transformation. It is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Jews by employing them in his factories during World War II. Unflinching, emotionally powerful, and deeply human, the film remains one of the most important cinematic works of the 20th century.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Oskar Schindler’s Rise in Nazi Germany

Set in 1939 as Nazi Germany invades Poland, the film introduces Oskar Schindler (played by Liam Neeson), a member of the Nazi Party who arrives in Kraków to profit from the war. Charismatic, shrewd, and opportunistic, Schindler uses bribes and charm to gain favor among Nazi officials. With the help of Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), he acquires a formerly Jewish-owned enamelware factory, employing Jewish workers who cost less than Polish ones.

The Kraków Ghetto and the Rise of Amon Göth

The film shifts in tone as Jews are rounded up and forced into the Kraków Ghetto. One of the film’s most harrowing sequences depicts the liquidation of the ghetto, where families are torn apart, shot in the streets, and sent to concentration camps. Here, we meet the chilling Amon Göth (Ralph Fiennes), the sadistic SS officer who commands the Plaszów labor camp. His casual cruelty and unpredictable violence become symbolic of the Nazi regime’s inhumanity.

Schindler’s Moral Awakening

Initially driven by profit, Schindler slowly becomes horrified by the atrocities around him. Witnessing the liquidation of the ghetto, particularly a young girl in a red coat (a rare use of color in an otherwise black-and-white film), becomes a turning point. He begins to see his Jewish workers not as laborers, but as human beings in desperate need of protection.

The Creation of “Schindler’s List”

As the war draws to a close and the Final Solution is in full force, Schindler and Stern compile a list of over 1,000 Jews to be transferred to a new factory in Brünnlitz, Czechoslovakia—away from the death camps. This list becomes their lifeline. When a clerical error sends the women and children to Auschwitz, Schindler bribes officials to retrieve them, showing his deepened commitment.

Movie Ending

The war ends, and Schindler gathers his workers to tell them they are free. However, he must flee, as being a member of the Nazi Party makes him a hunted man despite his actions. As he prepares to leave, his workers present him with a ring inscribed with a Talmudic phrase: “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” Overcome with guilt that he could not save more, Schindler breaks down, lamenting that he didn’t do enough—even though he saved over 1,100 lives.

The film then transitions from black-and-white to color as the real Schindlerjuden (Schindler’s Jews) and actors visit Schindler’s grave in Jerusalem, placing stones in a Jewish tradition of remembrance. It’s a deeply emotional and sobering conclusion that connects the story to real history, underlining the enduring legacy of Oskar Schindler’s actions.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Schindler’s List does not have a post-credits scene. The film concludes definitively with the graveyard sequence, followed by a simple black screen and end credits. The tone and gravity of the movie wouldn’t be compatible with the kind of additions often seen in post-credit scenes.

Type of Movie

Historical Drama
Biographical Film
War Film
Holocaust Cinema

This is a serious, emotionally intense drama based on real events, intended to bear witness to history rather than entertain in the traditional sense.

Cast

Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler
Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern
Ralph Fiennes as Amon Göth
Caroline Goodall as Emilie Schindler
Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch

Film Music and Composer

The unforgettable score was composed by John Williams, featuring haunting violin solos by Itzhak Perlman. The main theme is deeply evocative and widely recognized, capturing the film’s tragic tone and emotional depth. Williams initially felt unworthy of the task, stating that Spielberg deserved a better composer—but Spielberg insisted that Williams was the best.

Filming Locations

Kraków, Poland – Filmed on location, including in and around actual sites where events took place.
Płaszów Camp Site – A reconstructed version was built near the original site.
Auschwitz – While the film did not shoot inside the actual concentration camp out of respect, sets were constructed to accurately replicate the appearance.

These locations lend the film an eerie authenticity. Spielberg chose to shoot in black-and-white to mirror documentary footage of the Holocaust and evoke the era more directly.

Awards and Nominations

Won 7 Academy Awards:

Best Picture
Best Director (Steven Spielberg)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Film Editing
Best Original Score

Nominated for 12 Oscars total, and also received Golden Globe and BAFTA wins. It’s widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Spielberg refused to take a salary for directing the film, calling it “blood money.”
The film was emotionally draining; Spielberg would call Robin Williams daily for a mental break via phone jokes.
Many Holocaust survivors visited the set, some of whom had personal ties to the real Oskar Schindler.
The girl in the red coat is a rare use of color and became an iconic symbol of innocence amidst horror.

Inspirations and References

The movie is based on Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel, Schindler’s Ark. The book itself was inspired by the real testimonies of Schindlerjuden. While the film follows the book closely, Spielberg’s vision adds cinematic weight, particularly through visual storytelling choices like the use of color and documentary-style camerawork.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Spielberg kept the film tight and minimal, cutting several scenes that would have over-explained or disrupted the tone. One deleted scene involved a more extended version of Schindler’s breakdown, but Spielberg decided the final version was powerful enough.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While the movie is based on Schindler’s Ark, the book is more expansive and includes interviews and historical context. The film simplifies certain events and combines or omits characters for narrative focus but remains faithful to the core truth of the story.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The liquidation of the Kraków Ghetto
The girl in the red coat
Schindler’s breakdown over not saving more
The workers being mistakenly sent to Auschwitz
The final scene at Schindler’s grave

Iconic Quotes

“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.”
“Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don’t.”
“I could have got more… I didn’t do enough!”
“This list is life. All around its margins lies the gulf.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Spielberg used non-actors in background roles—some of whom were actual Holocaust survivors or descendants.
The red coat appears again in a later scene, confirming the girl’s death—emphasizing the loss of innocence.
The candle lighting in the opening scene subtly transitions from color to black-and-white, symbolizing the extinguishing of life.

Trivia

Filmed in just 72 days on a tight budget despite its scope.
Steven Spielberg was hesitant to make the film, fearing he wasn’t ready emotionally.
The film was shown in Germany without commercial breaks—unprecedented at the time.
It was preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2004 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Why Watch?

Because Schindler’s List is not just a film—it is a solemn experience, a historical document, and a profound meditation on morality, guilt, and human decency amidst horror. It educates, moves, and leaves a lasting impact that few films ever do. It’s essential viewing for anyone who values cinema as an art form and history as a lesson.

Schindler’s List (1993)

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Oskar Schindler’s Rise in Nazi Germany