Wonderful, Brilliant - and flawed.

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2004)

(possible spoilers)
I saw this film when it first came out on video and, like most people, I thought it was a work of genius & it moved me to tears etc. Since then I've (slightly) revised my opinion. Two things "troubled" me about the movie. Firstly I felt the character of Goldberg (the Jewish Policeman) was under-developed and secondly, the scene where the little boy (Adam) blows a whistle repeatedly to betray fellow jews-in-hiding. My elderly neighbour comes from Poland and grew up in kracow where Schindlers List was (mainly) set and filmed. He's not jewish, but was well acquainted with the subject of the movie. He himself has one glaring criticism of this film, which explains my own reservations and - if true - I think it's a hell of a shame. The crimes of the SS and Gestapo have been raked over for 60 years and there's nothing anyone can really add, is there? it's all been said. However, my neighbour told me that many of the crimes committed against the kracow jews were carried out by the Jewish Police themselves; fellow jews!! Spielberg presents them as rather comical figures who merely read out names and check lists. I'm told (by someone who was there) that in reality they were a gang of rapists and murderers who had unrestrained power over their fellow jews, carried out the orders of their SS masters with ruthless efficiency and frequently exercised initiative in devising tortures, against their own people. As Spielgerg is probably the most talented film-maker in the world, I can only assume his false portrayal of the Jewish Police is deliberate. What I've learned recently has spoiled the film for me, but I'm still glad I know the whole picture now. Perhaps that explains why the real "Goldberg" wasn't invited to drop a stone onto Oscar Schindler's grave. Schindlers List is a beautiful, harrowing, moving film and of course the monsterous crimes of the nazis must never be forgotten. I'm just disappointed that Mr Spielberg didn't tell the whole story.