Excuisite cinema

Rating: 10/10 (20 April 2005)

The film which centres on the courageous deeds of a German industrialist who shelters his Jewish workers from impending death is one of the finest films ever made. Not just because it was about the holocaust.Even if one were to divorce the Holocaust from the film - or put it more simply, as holocaust deniers would have us believe that it never happened - this simply remains one of the finest executed films . Right up there with other greats such as Amadeus. The decision to shoot the film in a quasi documentary black and white style is skilfully handled by the cinematographer Janus Kaminski, and for the whole three hours never lets the attention wonder off. The screenplay brilliantly explores the complexities of Oscar Schindler showing his zest for life and his humanity, and the arch Nazi Amon Goeth cannot hide his attraction to his Jewish maid whilst harbouring hatred towards her race. The film intricately shows how Schindler starts his factory from nothing, peddling money from Jews from the ghetto, succeeding as an Entrepreneur and then deciding to sacrifice all of it to save his workers. The interplay between Schindler and the various Nazis who he charms and bribes is brilliantly performed by Liam Neeson. Sir Ben Kingsley gives a fantastic low key performance as the keen accountant who quietly paves the way for more workers to be protected within the factory under the nose of his boss. The score by JohnWilliams is definitely a career best as is every aspect of the film.