Schindler's List

Page 11-THE NEWS-January 1994 ^ Movie Review ^ Scbindler^s List is a “Must See” for Everyone Reviewed by Rita Mond magic circle around each face ‘Whoever Saves One Life, Saves the World Entire.” — The Talmud and pull it out of the crowd.” Last month I had the privilege Steven Spielberg explains fur of being at a preview of the ther, “You get to know the movie “Schindler’s List” — a Pfefferbergs, Dresners, Rosners movie which I had received and Helen Hirsch as frightened releases on for several months, faces but strong people who were I was told that it would be a selected by God, destiny and remarkable production, espe Oskar Schindler to survive.” cially since it was being copro - The essence of the story is that duced and directed by Steven one individual can change Spielberg. 1 knew that this things—against all odds. compelling drama was based on a true story and a novel written What motivated Schindler to by Thomas Keneally, published take increasingly bold steps to in 1982. I have the book in my protect and save his Jews is personal library. What I didn’t something that not even those know until I saw the movie was who admire him most can figure how compelling it really is! out. It is, perhaps, the paradox of a man saving people through “Schindler’s List” will be his vices. Spielberg speculates, “I opening in Charlotte sometime this month. I urge everyone to think he decided to save his workers, not because of one see it. Be prepared that it is long precise event, but more, because — 185 minutes — but because he got to know who they were of the story, the time will go as human beings.” Liam Neeson, quickly. Be prepared that it is On the Set at ‘^Schindler’s List:” Leopold (Paul) Page, center, shows an album of photos taken when he worked who portrays Schindler, be filmed with stark realism — for Oskar Schindler during the German occupation of Poland to (standing, from left) Steven Spielberg, director of lieves, “His motives were per some scenes are very graphic. It the Holocaust film; Ralph Fiennes, who plays the role of the Nazi commander Amon Goeth, and other cast members including (seated, to Page’s right) Liam Neeson, who plays Schindler in the film. Photo/David James haps a blend of selflessness and is not a film for those who are opportunism.” “weak-kneed.” It is a depiction of the Holocaust as never before the fullest. When and why did compas one human being. It is a story Schindler, who died in 1974, told on the silver screen. I His conscience gave him little sion for his workers transcend of survival — not merely the was buried in Israel according suggest that you bring a box of trouble at first. Taking over a his own self-interest? Perhaps survival of one man, but a to his wishes in the Catholic tissues with you — there were confiscated enamelware plant in only Oskar Schindler could selected number of Jews endur cemetery on Mount Zion in very few dry eyes to be seen as occupied Krakow, he made a answer that if he were alive ing the darkest period in re Jerusalem. A special epilogue to we were leaving the theatre. quick fortune on bribes, black- today. corded human history. What “Schindler’s List” was shot at his Oskar Schindler was a man of market deals and the labor of This Amblin Enterprises film “Schindler’s List” does, believes gravesite with i28 Schindlerjud- great talents and even greater his unpaid Jewish workers. Yet, presented by Universal Pictures Ben Kingsley, “is isolate all those en who were brought by the contradictions. A born salesman gradually, Oskar Schindler be has an outstanding cast; Liam traumatized and distressed faces production from around the and inveterate gambler, he gan to absorb the overwhelming Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph that we have seen from that world, as well as Emilie sought his fortune in the after- events surrounding him. As the Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jon period of history and draw a Schindler, his wife. math of the German invasion of Holocaust descended over Eu athan Sagalle and Embeth Da- Poland. Like many an enterpris rope, this once-ebullient bon vidtz. It is filmed in black and An Interview with Steven Spielberg ing businessman, he joined the vivant and befriender of Nazi white which is very effective for Nazi party to make deals, but officials was ready to risk it all the story which is being told. Why did Steven Spielberg — decision at that point that 1 was himself indifferent to pol to protect and then rescue more “Schindler’s List” is an indel a filmmaker who has earned a wanted to raise my children as itics. The only thing he truly' than 1,100 Jews sheltered in his ible story of devastation, geno multi-million dollar reputation Jews,” he says. Spielberg cur believed in was enjoying life to factory. cide and triumph of the faith of making such commercial suc rently has five children: Max, cesses as E.T. and Jurassic Park two children with second wife — choose to make a black-and- Kate Capshaw, a stepdaughter Portrait of a Survivor: Leopold Page white film about the Holocaust? from Capshaw’s previous mar The Man Who Made “Schindler’s List” Possible “I think my entire life 1 have riage and another youngster they been wanting to say something adopted. “I got really interested IflOO Jewish Slave Laborers about the Shoah,” Spielberg again having made the choice to By Tom Tugend While waiting for Keneally’s credit card authorization to says, “because it was such a part raise my children Jewish by re clear. Page — like some modern Schindler’s factory employed of my heritage, in my own home, educating myself with the ma Leopold (Paul) Page is a Ancient Mariner — fixed his eye 1,100 Jewish slave laborers. At through the influence of my terial I was buying for them.” grandparents, my parents, my stocky, hearty man of 80 who on the writer and unfolded the some point — we will never In the interview, the director know when, or why — this relatives, several of whom were infuses new vigor into such story of Oskar Schindler. describes the difficulties of unlikely savior decided to risk survivors, I saw documentaries words as endurance, persistence Schindler was an ethnic Ger bringing this non-commercial not only his neck but his fortune about the Holocaust, I was and the will to live. man from the Sudetenland, the film to the screen. He also admits to rescue his workers from their obsessed with trying to find out that he could not have made this Such traits make clear how he border area of Czechoslovakia certain fate at the nearby Ausch why a people could do some gobbled up by Hitler after the movie a decade ago: “I don’t survived the Holocaust and witz death camp. In this amazing thing so heinous to another 1938 Munich pact. Within think I was mature enough to became a successful business and spine-tingling effort. Page people. It is something to this make it 11 years ago. I was just man in Beverly Hills. They also months of the German conquest day I still have not figured out,” (his name then was Leopold trying to continue to live out my explain why “Schindler’s List” of Poland in 1939, he arrived in In an interview with writer Pfefferberg) became one of childhood through my films. But was made. Directed by Steven Krakow as a freewheeling entre Curt Schleier for the B’nai B’rith Schindler’s chief aides and co as I started to grow up and have Spielberg, the film opened in preneur to make his fortune. He conspirators. Keneally listened International Jewish Monthly, took over a kitchenware factory children myself, I began to look major cities Dec, 15, to the story and, though im Spielberg candidly discusses the that had been “Aryanized” after at the world differently.” It was in 1980, with the tem pressed, begged off because, he route that has taken him from the arrest of its Jewish owners said, he was only three years old the depths of the ocean in his Spielberg recognizes that this perature close to 105 degrees, and, dealing actively on the that a stranger walked into when World War II began. As first feature success, “Jaws,” to movie is a departure from his black market, quickly became a an Australian Catholic, he had the depths of human hatred in string of successes, but he hopes Page’s air-conditioned leather- multimillionaire. goods store in Beverly Hills learned little about the Holo “Schindler’s List.” that “ Schindler’s List” will looking for some respite from Schindler was a Catholic, but caust, and not much more about Spielberg explains that he contribute to an understanding the heat and a new briefcase. hardly an ideal son of the Jews. “I got angry,” Page recalls experienced a reawakening of of the Holocaust. “Sure,” he After the sale, the man presented Church. He was a handsome and today, “and told him those were his Jewish identity upon the says, “there’s always the fear that his American Express card, charming man, a heavy drinker three reasons why he should birth of his first child. Although they’re going to come in exp>ect- which bore the name of Thomas and smoker, a persistent wom write the book.” raised in an observant home, he ing a thrill ride and they’re going Keneally, and explained he was anizer (although married) who Like many before and after lived a relatively secular life to wind up with a lesson in a writer who had been at a knew just how to entertain and him, Keneally was no match for through most of his adulthood.

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