Schindler's List is a historical drama based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.
The film begins in 1939, with the Nazi invasion of Poland. Oskar Schindler, a cynical and opportunistic businessman, arrives in Krakow with the intention of exploiting the war to make a fortune. He sets up a factory, employing Jewish workers for cheap labor.
Initially, Schindler is indifferent to the plight of the Jews. He sees them as a source of labor and profit, exploiting their desperation for personal gain. However, his perspective gradually changes as he witnesses the horrors of the Nazi regime. He sees the brutality, the dehumanization, and the systematic extermination of the Jewish population.
Driven by a growing sense of compassion and guilt, Schindler decides to use his position to save lives. He begins by bribing officials and providing food and shelter to his workers. He eventually converts his factory to produce munitions for the German war effort, ensuring his workers' survival by making them "essential" to the war production.
As the war intensifies, Schindler faces increasing dangers. He must navigate a complex web of corruption, deceit, and violence. He risks his own life and fortune to protect his workers, even after he himself faces threats from the Nazi regime.
The film culminates in the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto and the subsequent deportation of its Jewish population to concentration camps. Schindler, with the help of his secretary and friend, Itzhak Stern, and his accountant, Goeth, manages to secure the release of his workers and transport them to a new factory in the Czech Republic.
The film concludes with the liberation of Schindler's factory by the Allied forces. Schindler is a broken man, haunted by the lives he could not save. He is deeply affected by the atrocities he witnessed and the people he lost.
The film's final scene shows the survivors of Schindler's list visiting his grave in Jerusalem, leaving stones on his tombstone as a sign of respect and gratitude. This powerful image emphasizes the enduring impact of Schindler's actions and the importance of remembering the victims of the Holocaust.
Schindler's List is a moving and powerful story about the power of one person to make a difference in the face of unimaginable evil. It is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for both cruelty and compassion.