Statement: The significance of the beginning becomes clear only at the end.
The film Schindler’s List directed by Steven Spielberg tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a
businessman in Poland who ended up saving over 1100 Jews during the Holocaust. The film
follows Oskar’s journey and how he manages to change and develop throughout the film.
The opening scene of the film is a crucial part of the process and leaves room for the
audience to witness Oskar’s transition from a selfish opportunist to a man who would do
anything to save the lives of others. The change is specifically highlighted through a use of
techniques, the most important being the symbolism of his Nazi pin and what it represents.
During WW2, those in German society who wanted to be exempted from being labelled a
traitor joined the Nazi party. They showed their loyalty by wearing a pin that represented
their alliance with Adolf Hitler and his values. In the opening scene of the Schindler’s List,
we see that the protagonist of the film, Oskar Schindler, is wearing one of these pins. The
pin directly represents all that Oskar stood for, his opportunistic mindset and disregard for
other people, specifically the Jews. Throughout the scene Spielberg has been using a
following shot to show Oskar getting ready before heading out to socialise in high society,
his dresser covered filled with expensive jewellery and cash. Once Oskar reaches for the pin,
a close up shot is used which is done to bring specific attention to the pin. It is the last thing
Oskar puts on before heading out, indicating it’s significance to both the character and the
film as a whole. There is no dialogue used in this scene, rather the sound of classical music
which is used alongside the symbolism to show the type of person Oskar was. He got ready
to go out to socialise with other Nazi party members, all of them without a care about the
multitudes of death and suffering happening around them. This purposeful use of the Nazi
pin’s symbolism and techniques meant that the audience was unaware of the change that
was about to occur in Oskar Schindler, the significance only became clear at the end of the
film.
After the beginning of the film we watch Oskar’s story transpire, see him beginning to
change from the man he was into someone almost unrecognisable. He still carries his
charming nature but now he uses it as a way to save as many Jews as he could. He no longer
uses his wealth for himself but uses it to save over 1100 Jews from being worked to death in
labour camps. The most significant example of the change Oskar has experienced is his
alternate view on the Nazi pin, something he once wore with pride. One of the final scenes
of the movie is set just after it has been announced that Germany lost the war. Oskar is
preparing to flee as he was most likely going to be hunted down and arrested because he
was a member of the Nazi party. A long shot is used to show Oskar surrounded by all the
Jews he managed to save yet he still can’t see all the good he has managed to do. He begins
to break down and catches sight of his pin. “This pin...two people. This is gold. Two people”
is what Oskar says, showing the audience his obvious change in perspective. What he once
saw was a pin that represented his ticket into high society, but he now saw as something
that could have been exchanged to save two more innocent lives. This contrast is one of the
most significant parts of the film. It leaves the viewer realising the true change that has
been witnessed throughout Oskar’s journey. The audience now understands the importance
of the first scene, how it was done to show how much a man can change.
Through a skilful use of symbolism and other techniques, Spielberg was able to tell the story
of Oskar Schindler and expose the audience to the truly good person he turned out to be.
The beginning of the film when Oskar is getting ready was an intentional choice, it was shot
with purpose. It became clear by the end of the film that it was done to reveal the change in
Oskar Schindler’s character, letting the audience witness the change alongside Oskar. The
film as a whole had a very meaningful message and was carried out in a way that left the
audience with a hopefully new angle on Oskar Schindler.