The making and context of Schindler's List (Spielberg,1993)

Schindler's list follows the true story (based on the book Schindler's Ark, by Thomas Keneally) of Oskar Schindler, a Nazi party businessman who saved over 1,000 Jews during the holocaust in WW2. The film won seven academy awards (including best picture and best director) and starred Liam Neeson , Ralph Fiennes , and Ben Kingsley. 

Spielberg's film is known as one of the most emotive films of all time which is due to some contextual factors as well as micro features such as close-up shots, performance and movement of the characters and the score used. The context behind Spielberg making Schindler's list is that the holocaust was not very well know about and so he wanted to make the subject more well known to those who were oblivious, those who deny the holocaust, and those who had no idea what happened to Jews in Poland during the war. As a Jew, Spielberg felt that the film was a Jewish film for Jews to use against non-Jews as a historical record of what happened. He also felt that any money he made from the film would be 'blood money' and so did not receive a salary for the film. In Germany post 1993, Schindler's List was shown to every schoolchild over 14 years to show them what the Germans did and to also highlight the racial guilt of the country.

Another contextual point is that Spielberg chose to use B-List actors (Liam Neeson who played Oskar Schindler, Ben Kingsley who played Itzhak Stern, and Ralph Fiennes) rather than A-List actors so that the cast would not dominate the film to allow for the story and content to be the main focus of the film. As the the film is based on a true story, it makes it more engaging as the audience want to know what really happened. However, the way audiences react to the film completely depends on their own experiences of the film and the subject matter. For example the German school children would react differently to the film as they have been forced to watch a something that completely disgraces their country and forefathers; whereas a Jewish descendant may react to the horrific events that took place as it was a family member it happened to. When the survivor Mila Pfefferberg saw Ralpf Feinnes, she started shaking as he reminded her so much of the real Amon Goeth. This just shows how much your nationality/ experiences effect how you react to film as well as the context of the film. 

Key scenes that emphasise emotion in Schindler's List

Scene 1- The Liquidation of the Ghetto

This is one of the most memorable scenes in the film as it graphically plays on the audiences emotions due to the violence and brutality shown towards the Jews by the Nazi's. 

In this scene, micro features are the main element that highlight the emotion of the characters and actions. A lot of close up shots are used of Oskar Schindler and Itzhak Stern which shows their reactions of the ordeal. These close ups of Schindler are important as it is a turning point in the film when he finally decides to help the Jews. His reaction enhances how shocking the liquidation is by it being horrifying for a Nazi follower, it's hard to imagine just how horrible it is from a Jewish perspective. 

A very important element in this scene is the use of colour. A little girl is shown in a red coat which engages the audience by her standing out against the mass of black and white. The little girl is oblivious to what is going on around her which allows her to freely move around the ghetto making her performance and movement more interesting. She is followed by Schindler's gaze wih close ups of him following her movements. This is important for a later point in the film when we see the little girl and Schindler again. 

Macro features also emphasise emotion as this point of the film as there is an increase of violence to a point of no return. This violence foreshadows the violence that is yet to come which makes the scene more horrific. 

There are several contextual factors that determine how an audience may react to the scene. Your nationality may affect your emotional response as if you were a German national, then your reaction may be more focused on racial guilt and you may have a stronger connection with the Germans rather than the Jews. 

A Jewish decendant would have a completely different response as it would be a much more saddening experience. 

Where this scene is positioned in the film is important as we, as the audience have become well acquainted with the characters making the scene more influential in our response. This links  to Stuart Hall's theory as it encourages us to react a certain way. 

Scene 2- Interviewing the Secretaries

This scene is where Schindler is portrayed as somewhat of a womaniser as he seems very interested in the young women being interviewed. This scene breaks up the serious mood of the pervious scenes by being more lighthearted making the film easier to watch. This also links to Stuart Halls theory via the positioning of the scene and its relationship within the film. 

The macro features in this scene highlight Schindler as a flawed character by him being interested in other women when he has a wife at home. This flaw makes him a more relatable character as he is not idealistic. 

Micro features in this scene focus on Schindler's performance and movement within the frame as well as a comic up beat score. 

In the scene when Schindler is sat opposite the interviewees, after evey woman he moves closer in to the shot. The last woman is the least attractive but is the best typer and ironically, Schindler shows no interest in her and is shown sat slumped I. His chair far away from her in the shot. 

There is a jump cut after every woman which shows the progress in time as well as the painters in the background moving around in the frame after each cut.