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There are plenty of films dealing with dark themes in the illustrious filmography of Steven Spielberg. Prior to his success withSaving Private Ryan, Amistad,orBridge of Spies,the Ohio-born filmmaker, 77, addressed a subject that was more personal to him.
Spielberg helmed the epic historical dramaSchindler’s Listin the same year (1993), when he broke box office records withJurassic Park. Adapted from the 1982 novelSchindler’s Arkby Thomas Keneally, the former relates the terrifying true story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who employed thousands of Jews during World War II to keep them safe from the Nazi party’s persecution.
Starring Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley, the film was a box office hit that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and gave Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. However, it is also acknowledged for having introduced the Holocaust to a larger public.
Nevertheless, what many might not be aware of is the horrific tale of anti-Semitism that the cast and crew faced while filmingSchindler’s List.
Schindler’s List: Crew’s Resilience in the Face of Anti-Semitic Challenges
In the 1990s,Steven Spielbergand his team created a film that opened the eyes of countless moviegoers with its unflinching depiction of the horrors that the Jewish people endured during the Holocaust, resulting in some truly stunning and moving imagery. But the filmmaker’s intention went far beyond simply startling audiences; he also wanted to confront a very real issue that still plagues Jews today.
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In an interview with The Sunday Times (viaDeadline), the filmmaker discussed his vision forSchindler’s Listand its dramatic ending, which was intended to “verify” that everything in the film was “true”. Spielberg explained:
“Holocaust denial was on the rise again — that was the entire reason I made the movie in 1993. That ending was a way to verify that everything in the movie was true.”
Even now, the film’s numerous sequences in whichLiam Neeson’s Oskar Schindler saves actual Jews help viewers accept the horrific reality of recent history. Spielberg, 77, further admitted:
“It had a vital message that is more important today than it even was in 1993. Because antisemitism is so much worse today than it was when I made the film.”
And it must do so since Holocaust denial is still a startlingly common problem (seeUSA Today).It may surprise many to learn of the horrifying tale of anti-Semitism the cast and crew experienced during theSchindler’s Listfilming. Neeson, who brilliantly embodied Oskar Schindler, revealed in a conversation withTHRin February of this year that:
“I heard my own driver talking in a not very nice way about Branko Lustig. It was just a throwaway comment about their salary or something. He mumbled to himself something like, “Well, of course, he’s a Jew.”
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Well, the desire to pay tribute to the memory of the Holocaust victims and tell their stories with the utmost respect and authenticity drove Spielberg and the crew to continue with the production.
Robin Williams’ Impact on Steven Spielberg’s Journey withSchindler’s List
As we learned above, Steven Spielberg did not alwayshave an easy timebringing the horrific Holocaust dramaSchindler’s Listto life. But he did have one thing to look forward to that would cheer him up: weekly phone calls from thelate Robin Williams.
According toDeadline, Spielberg stated during a film retrospective held at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York:
“He [Robin Williams] would call and do 15 minutes of stand-up on the phone. He would never say goodbye; he would always just hang up on the biggest laugh he got from me. Mic drop.”
Liam Neeson, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz, and Ben Kingsley were among the stars who collaborated with Spielberg on the film.Regardless of the film’s sentiments, Kingsley recalled how anti-Semitism lurked throughout the production. He remarked:
“It was just for us.”
Neeson also mentioned thatduring the filmingof scenes at Auschwitz, he was deeply impacted by a comment made by Branko Lustig, one of the film’s producers:
“He pointed over to the huts at Auschwitz and he said, ‘You see that hut? I was in that hut.’ It hit me, big f***ing time. Big time. I kept screwing up all the lines.”
“I have no idea if anyone will go see it”: Steven Spielberg Got the Greatest Swap Deal With Martin Scorsese That Led to Schindler’s List
Well, after grossing over $300 million globally (seeBox Office Mojo), the 1993 flick went on to become a critical darling (Rotten Tomatoes), leading to seven Academy Awards,including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
If you have not seenSchindler’s Listyet, do yourself a favor and stream it on FuboTV.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
