Schindler’s List, a Must Watch

Submitted by SeriousFox96 t3_zux9cm in movies

I was on a plane back from Turkey and had 5 hours to spare, so I said “fuck it” and decided to watch one or two of the movies on my bucket list. I ended up picking Schindler’s List as the top choice, and I really don’t regret it; the acting was absolutely spot on, and I found myself really connected to Liam Neeson’s performance, probably my favorite of his. I really appreciated the small stories told in between each scene, and truly describing the struggles of the oppressed clusters of Jewish individuals. The cinematography is definitely unmatched, and making it black and white left the movie with an incomparable atmosphere. Definitely up there in my favorite movies of all time, and a must watch for any proud historian. Lmk if you guys have any other takes on this film.

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RealMudflapper t1_j1lv228 wrote

When I was relatively young and dumb, I saw this with a group of friends in a theater in Schaumburg, IL, with plans of grabbing dinner then hitting Shelter in Chicago afterwards. Turned out the theater was filled with camp survivors and their families. It is already a powerful film, but the reverent, pin-drop silence of the audience punctuated only by muted gasps and sobs was extra devastating. Needless to say there was no dinner or clubbing afterwards; we decided to just go straight home and hug our parents.

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GenXUser t1_j1luq1m wrote

Saw it in the theater but will never watch it again.

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SeriousFox96 OP t1_j1lvxum wrote

Ahh to each their own, I suppose

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GenXUser t1_j1lwavd wrote

Great film everyone should see once. It hit me emotionally too hard and knowing the history it wasn't something I would watch again.

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ballsonrawls t1_j1ml22g wrote

Sure it wasn't because you were caught making out in the theater?

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RealMudflapper t1_j1p0hui wrote

Whoever downvoted you didn’t get the reference :)

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ballsonrawls t1_j1p0ydj wrote

Bahahaha thank you!!!! I thought it was funny and totally had to ca it out

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Flyawaylittlemonkey t1_j1m5xjo wrote

I was doing the 100 greatest movies list as a lockdown activity. Schindler's List was on it.

I figured a lot of the movies would be cheaper on DVD or just not around on streaming so I hit up eBay and scored the two disc special edition for 99p. Brilliant.

Had a free afternoon, so put the disc in, played the movie, and was super confused. The plot seemed to make no sense, there was no scene setting and suddenly we're in a factory. I had no idea what was going on, but I told myself - stick with it. Maybe this is flashback or a non linear narrative like Memento.

It was only when the credits rolled that I realised I'd played the second fucking disc first by mistake.

I am an absolute idiot.

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extra_specticles t1_j1lt2bw wrote

I think that actually Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley were much better performers than Liam Neeson in this film.

Our full house cinema, was deathly silent, after that showing.

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A40 t1_j1lv53z wrote

Once. I couldn't take the years of turmoil ever again.

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lakast t1_j1mc92o wrote

There's a scene where a mother and daughter go into the showers and they don't know and you don't know what will come out of the shower heads... gas or water.

It about killed me. I sobbed so hard I had to pause the movie and go in the other room to get myself together.

I've seen the movie once, but not sure that I'll ever watch it again - it's just too much for me.

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LittleBullBoy t1_j1lupx9 wrote

The scene in the basement with Ralph Fiennes… so disturbing.

This movie is Spielberg’s best.

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Dont_Order_A_Slayer t1_j1lv3zs wrote

The part where Amon is setting up Kingsley in a room, with the young Jewish boy trying to put the table in place.

Amon is just circling like a shark, and every time the boy moves the table, or makes progress, Amon pushes it right back to square 1 where the boy started.

This scene illustrated his psychology and hatred far, far more imo than him waking up, and sniping the random camp prisoner(s) all before even taking a piss in the morning.

That shit he was pulling in the office room scene every time the boy made progress.

Just .. wow.

Took me almost 30 years to realize it, too.

Unbelievable scene.

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SeriousFox96 OP t1_j1lw32r wrote

Ahh the more you spoke about it, the more I recalled it bearing that much depth

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braineatingalien t1_j1lt56t wrote

I could only watch this movie once, due to the amount of sobbing on my part and I saw it in the theater when it came out. I remember the cinematography being amazing- the scene with the girl in the red coat running through when everything else is black and white stuck with me. And the “I could have saved one more”, of course. It’s a really well done movie.

There’s also a French documentary called Shoah that’s worth watching if you haven’t seen it.

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SeriousFox96 OP t1_j1lw56h wrote

I’ll definitely give it a go, and that red coat scene caught me too!

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stcrIight t1_j1m3sxk wrote

It's definitely a movie you see once but never again because of how horrifying it is, but it's super important. I remember my surprise seeing the first gunshot shown instead of alluded to (I was a teenager when I saw it) and it's so important they didn't sugar coat the horrors and force people to see what we were capable of as people.

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Infinity-Q t1_j1lsttf wrote

A great watch indeed. Currently shown in history class when learning about WWII in my country!

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ryangw1982 t1_j1lswbh wrote

Always good to see young people finally appreciating this.

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SeriousFox96 OP t1_j1lvyvd wrote

If you have any more recommendations I’m all for it

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eekamuse t1_j1mrq3r wrote

The Killing Fields is amazing and brutal. Based on a true story.

Hotel Rwanda too, but I haven't been able to watch it yet.

Not of the same quality, but Welcome to Sarajevo.

Genocide never goes out of fashion, unfortunately.

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drupoxy t1_j1mxu3m wrote

The Act of Killing is another. It is a documentary in which they interview people in a country where the (US supported) genocides have not only not been condemned, but the perpetrators are still living normal lives. They basically trick the perpetrators, who have largely avoided caring or thinking about it, into understanding the extent of what they've done. One of the most moving films I've ever seen.

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eekamuse t1_j1nnqm0 wrote

I haven't been able to watch that one. I know it's well done, but I don't think I can do it. Good add, though

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ToyVaren t1_j1lts62 wrote

Yup. Everything Spielberg did is great. I havent seen munich yet but reviews say its up to par with the rest of his work.

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AbleInfluence1817 t1_j1mkjy2 wrote

I personally love Munich from Spielberg’s filmography and is def one of my favorites but not sure Munich is on par with Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List (I’m not huge on Indiana Jones or Close Encounters but those are considered more seminal I think). I also can see strong arguments for minority report and Saving Private Ryan. What’s amazing is that you can probably make a top 10 from Spielberg and not include Munich and it wouldn’t be too controversial (I personally wouldn’t though:)

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anxious1975 t1_j1lzpzc wrote

There are actually different soundtracks for it around the world

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ALEX7DX t1_j1m16j8 wrote

Harrowing.

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Elduderino82 t1_j1mlr5u wrote

Just don't get caught making out during the film.

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Dodkong t1_j1o7yus wrote

Incredible movie. I've watched it four times so far, and I will continue to do so every few years.

This movie demands to be seen again and again to remind us how not to be while at the same time reminding us how to be.

The scene that I will always cry at is the end, watching the remaining survivors and their descendants placing those stones on his crypt. It shatters me every single time. I'm crying right now just thinking about it.

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AtlJayhawk t1_j1ot6qd wrote

I saw this in the theater in 1993. I was 13. It has left a huge mark on my soul. Such a touching film. Seeing Katerina Witt skate to the soundtrack at the 1994 Olympics was somber.

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fruitporridge t1_j1lvaap wrote

The movie is just okay.

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PocketDog t1_j1lx0gv wrote

Oh come on, on every single level by every measurable mark it's superb. I know taste is subjective and it's fine to not like something, but nobody can deny Schindler's List is a masterpiece.

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