Review of Schindler's List (1993) by Another V — 03 Dec 2016

It's been a while since I watched Schindler's List, so it's not fresh in my mind, but I've seen it more than once. Every time I see it, I am once again profoundly emotionally affected and reminded of the power of this story.

This story needed to be told, and it was told very well. It pulls you in, deeply. If you are capable of crying while watching a movie, you will cry at some points. You may start to ponder humanity, human nature, and the reasons for things.

I was caught up in the stories of multiple individuals being told here. Some things play out the way you hope they will; some don't. As we know, millions of people were killed by Nazi genocide during WWII, but here is one story about how the actions of one at first reluctant hero can make a tremendous difference to the lives of many. It's a complex and touching story, an important one.

People have asked, how could this happen? Many Germans said they didn't know what was happening or how bad things really were.

What was one of the first things to go in Hitler's Germany? And in every dictatorship? Freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom to openly express dissent without fear of punishment. When the only news is what the people in power want you to know, that's how people remain ignorant when something like this happens.

Concentration camps like the ones depicted in Schindler's List were approved and authorized by Adolph Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, decades ago. His top circle ensured that his vision of ethnic cleansing was carried out. Millions of people were brought to the camps, mostly ethnic Jews, kept in horrible conditions, and killed. Why? Ethnic hatred, intolerance for people of a different race, and a stirring up against those who are different. They were rounded up and shipped out, methodically, and brought to these camps. Those who tried to take a stand against Hitler's policies, in any way, were rounded up and harrassed. Many of them were also put into the camps to share in the Jews' fate.

Any time large numbers of people are to be rounded up, should we look away? Should we say "They asked for it" or "They deserve it"? Is that what we should do? Should we not pay attention to where they go or what their fate is or how they are treated?

If you like this, I recommend watching Machine Gun Preacher as well as Hotel Rwanda, both stories of actual modern day heroes saving people from genocide. The world needs more heroes like this. Ask a Syrian Christian (if you can find one that is still alive).