Critique on Schindler’s List for its Camera works
Films communicate their message in a visual medium. Naturally, the camera works that goes into the making of the film are the most important aspect of any film. One such film that comes to my mind when I think of camera works is Schindler’s List.
Based in the 1940’s, during the outbreak of the World War II, the film tries to show the horrifying violence subjected on the Jews by the Nazis and how Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi party and businessman saves lives of hundreds of Jews. Considering the heavy subject matter of the film, Steven Spielberg chose to shoot the movie in black and white, with only a few scenes shot in colour. This gave the film a yesteryear look and muted down the gory violence in the film at the same time.
The film begins with a Jewish family celebrating the Sabbath. The scene ends with the family lighting a candle, which there on dies and then progresses to the story in black and white. Using a candle as a transition, the film ends with a final scene where real-life Jew factory workers pay homage to Schindler's tomb.
To accommodate the numerous characters in the film, cinematographer Janusz Kaminszki uses wider aspect ratio for every frame. The stark contrast between the glossy Nazi parties and concentration camps come out alive with his cinematography. One of the most iconic and heart-wrenching scenes in the movie is the girl in the red coat. Schindler sees the massacre that takes place from atop a hill and spots a little girl in a red coat trying to hide among refugees. The red coat perhaps symbolises the bloodshed and the atrocities that came about with the genocides. Spielberg wanted the film to come across as real as possible. Hence, he and
Kaminszki decided to shoot the film documentary style. 40% of the film is in fact with a handheld camera. One example of this technique used in the film is the 17-minute long liquidation of the ghetto. It is one of the most intense and horrifying scenes till date in the history of filmmaking.
Another scene that shouldn’t go without mentioning would be the one where the Jew women and children are brought to the gas chamber by train amidst snowfall. The ashes getting mixed with snowfall and the palpable fear on the faces of the women are shown aesthetically.
Schindler’s List is the definite answer as to remarkable camera works is concerned. But it shines ironically for the limited and intelligent use of it as oppose to the counterparts that depict use of the camera that’s rather over the top.
Bibliography
ARPUTH, J.
(2014) A cinematography analysis on Schindler’s list. Available at:
http://www.studentfilmer.com/uncategorized/a-cinematography-analysis-on-schindlers-list/
(Accessed: 3 April 2016).
Schindler’s list (1994) Directed by Steven
Spielberg .
Stacey Natiuk
(2012) Schindler’s list analysis. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nvR7WICVzI (Accessed: 3 April 2016).
1 comments:
Write commentsyour posts help multiple users with the comment, very fun be be been friendly with you, you have the videos or want you like see. chúc mừng ngày mới tốt lành
ReplySee more
> movies2k
> arrival putlockers
> the revenant putlocker
> Reviews Schindler’s List