Human Mind Through Film

What’s it all about?What’s it all about?

It’s Steven Spielberg's award- winning masterpiece.

Based on the “docu-novel” by Thomas Keneally, an Australian novelist.

Shot in black and white We tend to have far stronger and more detailed

recall of black and white images than their equivalent in colour.

It’s documentary authenticity vividly re-creates a dark frightening period during World War II, when Jews in Nazi-occupied Krakow were first dispossessed of their businesses and homes, and then placed in ghettos and forced labour camps and finally resettled in concentration camps for execution.

Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg

Key IssuesKey Issues

SurvivalSurvival Emotional Psychological Cultural Sociological

CultureCulture Anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews) played an important

role in discouraging sympathy and aid for the Jews. AltruismAltruism

“An unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.” Webster’s Dictionary

Change of Attitudes Why did he do it?

AryanizationAryanization

In Poland, the Nazis quickly expropriated Jewish businesses.

Through a process terms “Aryanization,” Jewish property was sold to “Aryans” for a considerably reduced price.

Jews had no right to protest.In this manner, Schindler located a formerly

Jewish-owned factory that would produce pots and pans and later munitions.

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Comes from the Greek word meaning: “complete destruction by burning.”

Why Did He Do It?Why Did He Do It?

“I don’t know what his motives were, even though I knew him very well. I asked him and I never got a clear answer and the film doesn’t make it clear, either. But I don’t give a damn. What’s important is that he saved our lives.”

Good and EvilGood and Evil

Who is good and who is evil?We all are.We all have the capacity of good and evil.Every nation has the potential to commit

genocide.Every human, despite his or her

fragilities, is capable of summoning the courage to defend human dignity.

Oskar SchindlerOskar Schindler

He Who Saves One Life He Who Saves One Life Saves the World EntireSaves the World Entire