Schindler's List - Realistic

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Schindlers List Question relating to Techniques used to create an affect Techniques - Black and White filming Documentary Style filming Cinematography – in particular panning and close ups Affect – Overall makes the film realistic Directors intention - shows the true horrors of the Holocaust In the film ‘Schindler’s List’ directed by Steven Spielberg the techniques of Black and White filming, documentary styled filming and cinematography are used to create the affect of realism in Schindler’s List.’ It is the director’s intention through using these affects to show the audience the true violence and horror of the holocaust with no bounds. The majority of ‘Schindler’s List’ is shot in black and white. Black and white filming makes the shocking images of the holocaust seem authentic and realistic as they are reminiscent of wartime film footage of the 1930’s and 40’s. Black and White filming also heightens the impact of the films violence by portraying the contrast between light and dark, good and evil. An example of the contrast between good and evil, light and dark is in the very first scene of the movie when a candle is lit during a Jewish religious ceremony. The flame of the candle is in colour but as the flame dies the film becomes black and white with the smoke from the candle transitions to the smoke of a train. This transition shows the impending dark horrors that the Jewish people are about to face. The light representing the good has been enclosed by the dark. Another scene that is made more impactful through the use of black and white filming is when ‘Amon Goeth’, SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) and the commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp in Płaszów, shoots a man outside in the snow. Immediately after this man is shot he is laying limp on the ground and his blood, which comes out as black, spreads into the pristine white
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