Schindlers List Film - Essay Example

Number Section Spring Semester Schindler’s List Introduction The use of expression within film is one which is able to create a specific response by using various techniques. It is the use of cinematic effects that allows the film to have specific meaning and to create a relationship to the spectator. When reviewing “Schindler’s List,” it can be seen that the specific techniques in the movie make a difference in the impact that is felt with the horrors of the Holocaust. The ability for the director to adapt the film from the book to the screen is reliant on these techniques to convey the same message as the book. Instead of using the literature as a direct statement on film, there are interpretations of the descriptions of the literature, specifically to create the same impact that is on the film that is in the book and which relates to the Holocaust. Adaptation of Book to Film The ability to adapt the book of “Schindler’s List” to a film is dependent on understanding the impact of the book and relaying this on the screen. The content, emotional responses, psychological understanding and other components need to have the same effect for adaptation. The concept of adaptation is one which is not defined by a direct translation from the text and to the film. The use of different techniques and working in an alternative medium also requires the artistic values, techniques and the original story to be presented in the film with the use of the alternative medium. The main concept is to create a type of translation which works on the several levels as the literature, specifically so it can provide the same type of insight toward the book while keeping the meaning through visual, sound and other techniques known. These each should create the same reaction while using the alternative techniques (Desmond, Hawkes, 2). Similarities in Text and Film The similarities that are in text and film relate to the overall ideas that are a part of both. The plot line, characters, description of what happens and the other aspects of the film all create a specific association with the events which occur. The interpretation is similar in showing how the story unfolds, what begins and ends and what each character is responsible for within the story. Each of these elements are similar and are used as a general guideline from the text and to the film. Both are responsible for showing what happens, how it is supposed to occur and what is expected in the environment and setting. From this viewpoint, there isn’t a difference between the stories. The film is able to outline exactly what happens, how the history occurred and what the characters are responsible for. Only the lack of details are from the text to the film because of the descriptions that are required for text but aren’t able to keep the attention o the audience in the film (Stam, Raengo, 6). In “Schindler’s List,” there are several elements which have similarities between the text and the film. The main similarities come with the plot line by showing the horrors of the Holocaust then juxtaposing this with the work of Schindler’s list. The overall plot line is able to stay the same with those who leave Auschwitz and other camps to join the business that Schindler runs. This is combined with the idea of the list that he uses to help to free those that are needed in the factory. The dialogue also remains similar in both, specifically with the highlighted parts that show the character of Schindler. For instance, when speaking to the Jewish priest at the end, he asks him to observe Sabbath. This is similar to the dialogue that is in the book, both which highlights what has happened as well as the characters of Schindler and the workers. Each of these elements offer similarities between both and allow for the main theme to be noticed throughout the story. Film and Artistic Elements Even though there are several similarities throughout the movie, differences arise with the artistic decisions to change some of the ideals. In general, the film cut out and re-arranges the text so it flows in a different way and so it can provide different insight into what is occurring throughout the text. Outside of the setting, dialogue and overall plot line, are several smaller excerpts that are cut from the movie or condensed into smaller forms from the text. For instance, the descriptions at the end of the film stretch the part of releasing and liberating the Jews while the text expands on this part. At the same time, it expands on parts that aren’t in the book, specifically which are defined by creating a post – memory relationship to what has occurred during the Holocaust. The scenes of violence, continuous approach to the Nazis that go against the Jews and the associations with the trauma which occurred are some of the highlighted parts, as opposed to other details in the book. This creates a stronger association with the Holocaust memoirs while changing the emotional response from the spectators (Radstone, 59). Another aspect which differs in both comes from the cutting of various elements that are in the book and in the movie. Characters, scenes and sub-plots are the three main areas that are cut in both. For the characters, there were missing secondary characters, specifically because the focus had to be on a group of individuals which could be developed throughout the play. There was a minimalist approach which was taken, specifically by showing Schindler and his main companions, as well as the main antagonist with a few surrounding individuals that were secondary. This was combined with the focus on the Jews having only the major characters while the secondary characters were found as extras or were eliminated from the film. The scenes and the sub – plots had this same difference, specifically with the perception and missing scenes being secondary to the overall form of the movie. If these were added in, then there would be a movie which wasn’t able to move forward at the right pace and which would create a narrative which lost the overall impact in the film (Hallam, 5). Another factor which was inclusive was the changing of scenes, including combined scenes and rearranging the novel to fit with the flow of the movie. These were used in the movie to create a chronological order to the movie and to show a step by step initiative of what occurred. However, in the book, the text moves through flashbacks, scenes and different details. The text has more room to do this, specifically because of the descriptions which help to enhance the character and change the way in which the information is revealed to the reader. However, in the film, there is a limited amount of time to show the main details. The scenes which are combined include the secondary parts that are based on highlighting specific parts of the text while eliminating others which are only used for details within the movie. The cuts and combinations are then able to show the main ideal of the film, but the essence of the text is lost in the film medium because of the changes made with the plot, specifically which doesn’t provide extra details about the characters and events which occurred (Ferrell, 57). The last elements which are seen as differing in the book and the movie come with the outside factors and the extra elements which the movie is able to use. The text is able to carry specific details because of the capacity of describing details, noting relations and moving in orders that are not chronological. It is expected that the book will be read over a long period of time which gives time to develop these different ideals for the emotional impact. However, the movie has to change this with the two hour time frame and the need to keep the interest of the audience while creating the same emotions. To compensate for the lack of detail is the ability to use pieces that tie together as well as music, image and other representations that are additional to the overall look and feel of the film. Each of these helps the same impact to be made while offering different layers of alternatives to those that are interested in the film (Doneson, 5). One of the outside factors that is used in the movie and not in the book is with the capabilities of music, camera and the images which are displayed. There are incorporations of Jewish melodies, violins and music which heighten the emotions throughout the film. For instance, at the end, there are noticed songs of the Sabbath, which aren’t in the rest of the film. This heightens the awareness of the culture and of the memory of the Holocaust. Other times there is background music which comes directly from the Jewish culture to create outside relationships to the overall meaning of the film. There are also implications with the camera, such as showing the close – ups of individuals in the film and of showing the main concepts that are associated with each of the characters in terms of facial expressions, such as the fear or joy that was expressed through the film. Each of these elements present extra stimulation to the memory of the Holocaust while presenting extra parts that can’t be used in the book. The description with the movie then changes because of the secondary expressions, as opposed to the details that are in the text. While both have the same outcome of showing the memory of the Holocaust, the psychological and emotional sensations differ in the presentation of both. Conclusion The representation of the Holocaust in “Schindler’s List” is one that is created in both the text and the film. The similarities between these two come from the main goal of creating a memory of the Holocaust while presenting an emotional and psychological understanding of the tragedies which occurred in both and how this was associated with the main ideologies of the time frame. However, the book is able to present the information with details, layout of characters and scenes, and with personal associations and details that are described. In the movie, there is a shorter period of time, which leads to cuts and changes of the plot and the characters. It also leads to using secondary elements, such as sound and imagery to present the same information. While both are effectively able to show the tragedies of the Holocaust, the movie and text differ in the techniques which are used and the overall presentation which is created through the war. Works Cited Desmond, John, Peter Hawkes. Adaptation: Studying Film and Literature. McGraw Hill: New York, 2005. Doneson, JE. “Holocaust Revisited: A Catalyst for Memory or Trivialization?” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 15 (7). Ferrell, WK. Literature and Film as Modern Mythology. Routledge: New York, 2000. Hallam, E. Cultural Encounters Representing Otherness. Routledge: New York, 2000. Radstone, Susannah. “Social Bonds and Psychical Order: Testimonies.” Journal for Cultural Research 5 (1), 2001. Stam, Robert, Alessandra Raengo. Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation. Wiley – Blackwell: New York, 2003. Read More