The Way of Cinema

Rating: 6/10 (9 October 1999)

This film trivialises the holocaust. Unlike most of your reviewers, and like most normal people, I did know a bit about the subject before Schindler's List came out. I didn't need to be told that this was a shameful episode in history, and that it should not be repeated. The existence of this film won't make a toss of difference when the next crackpot decides to kill whichever race he has a grudge against, and it won't activate his acquiescing public. Spielberg obviously set out to enlighten us on the holocaust, but for me it made it more distant. We barely got to know any Jewish character that was immediately under threat, and the only character that was explored with any depth was Schindler, the hero - the most audience-friendly element. To film in black and white was a ridiculous decision - tantamount to Spielberg just saying, 'Yes, I know that this is a serious subject, but I'm going to deflect your attention and make the whole experience less real.'. Such is the way of cinema.