Use of light in Schindlers List

Schindler’s List is an amazing story of human nature, hatred, greed, lust, envy, anger, love, empathy, and most importantly strength. Director Steven Spielberg chose to shoot the film in black and white, free from odd angles and tricky lighting. His plain approach allowed the true story to shock the viewer without Hollywood glamour imposing on the true horror. Speilberg used colour in only four sections of the film to make a point of impression.

Spielberg shot the film on location in Poland and incorporating this with the use of monochrome captured the mood of oppression, evil and suffering. There are ghastly and realistic death scenes emphasized by the blood; inky rather than crimson gives us harrowing images without the gore.

Spielberg’s choice of black and white allowed the viewer to concentrate more on details, for example, when the women are lying in the bunks talking, the camera is angled up on the scared faces, light falling across them clearly showing the frightened expressions. Spielberg uses light, or lack of it to signify a mood, for example Schindler’s desperation to save the Jews as he bribes the Nazi o

The third instance in which a section of the frame is coloured is when the men are celebrating the Sabbath. Only the flames of the candles are in colour, shining a bright orange. These candles show that Schindler’s kindness to them has given them a small amount of hope and normality; a chance to overcome the darkness, evil, suffering and pain.

In a later scene, while bodies are being wheeled into the fire, Schindler sees the girl in the red coat, her small lifeless body dumped on a trolley along with several others. The red of the coat stands out, displaying the death of innocence and individuality. This scene also signifies the seeming ignorance that allows the Nazis to ignore or be unaffected by the cold-blooded murders they are committing against these people.

During the last scene the Jews begin the long walk to the next town and as they get closer to the camera the scene fades into colour. We can the see the actors are arm in arm with the real Schindler Jews. The colour gives us a sense that this is a true story and brings the film back into the current time. The actors and Schindler Jews then place stones on the grave of their saviour. The expressions on their

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