1993 | First reactions after the screening of the film 'Schindler's List' in Germany

Translation written by Maximilian H

- first guy says "Excuse me"
- the couple is asked about their first impression. He says he's very moved by the film and that one has to process it. He continues "such movies are important", then says that one can see in Yugoslavia that such things repeat themselves, people should reflect more on those things and he hopes that many people watch the film.
- the wife is asked "What has moved you particularly?" to which she replies "I was very moved by by seeing how the families were torn apart, children from their parents and men from the women."
- older guy says "I am devasted [sic: devastated]. I am completely exhausted." Interviewee asks "What shocked you particularly?" to which he replies "That such things could happen at all. And the man, that he saved so many. This fills me with hope."
- next guy says "I am still agitated, but something negative remains, I can't really express it yet."
- younger girl says "I can't say anything about it. It was simply incredible."
- last guy says "I believe that all right-wing extremists should have to watch this movie on a mandatory basis."

[BalkanXpress]

1. Interviewer (I): Can we ask about your first impression? - Man: Excuse me *sniffling* (leaves)
2. I: Can we ask you about your first impression? - Man: It is really touching and I need time to process it but these kind of movies are important. You can now see in Yugoslavia (Info: Civil war was going on there in 1993) that these things keep repeating themselves. Hopefully we will finally start to think and hopefully many people will watch the movie.
I: (turning to the lady) What touched you the most? - Woman: I was very touched about how the families were torn apart.... kids separated from their parents... men from their wives...
3. Man: Well, I am shocked, absolutely shattered. - I: What impressed or shocked you the most? - Man: Well, that something like that could even happen. And then that man... the way he saved so many people. It really fills me with hope.
4: Man: I got to say that I am still somewhat upset but... something negative remains. I cannot even word it.
5: Girl: I really cannot say anything. This was unbelievable.
6: Man: I also believe that all right-wing radicals at home and abroad should have to watch this mandatorily.*

*This could also be translated as: „I also believe that all right-wing extremists at home and abroad should see this movie as an obligation (probably referring to Germany‘s obligation of not allowing something like that to happen again.).“

[zmoon]

They should do a similar thing in Japan. Most Japanese public in this day and age are still under the impression that they were unjust victims of war without fully appreciating the atrocities their armies committed abroad. Many of them are even supportive of their political leaders paying respects at the shrines of Japnese imperial armie officials who were judged as war criminals for committing horrendous massacres of civilians.

[inoffensiveusername]

Back when people weren't completely numb. Pleasant.

[arthurdirindinjr]

They made a movie where only the military and law enforcement could have

They called




""Schindler's List"

[rogerlonghorn]

In the description the last guy says that watching this should be mandatory for all right wing extremists. We see it now with separation policies and voting suppression tactics. The right wing extremists didn't learn from their past mistakes, they just learned to hide it better.

[reneclaasen]

sad what happened.. sad that man is capable of such cruelty.. sad that it happens still to this day..

[zimnizzle]

I was living abroad in Germany when this movie came out and saw it in the theater in Germany in 1993. I’ve never seen so many quiet people exit and walk through the lobby to their cars.

[camctrail]

Schindler's List is no one's favorite movie, but it's a lot of peoples' best movie

[ARealPersonNotABot]

It's so strange. This is literally the first time I even thought about how German audiences must have reacted to this film. I remember when this film came out. I was a kid, but I understood the impact. This is very interesting.

[Galf]

Bear in mind this is 48 years after the end of the war so nearly all attending adults had someone with 1st hand experience of the war, and many were young or even young adults, possibly even former soldiers. This movie still hits hard today in our detached society. Imagine on people who lived part of it.

[Julia]

I remember watching this movie and being absolutely slain by two scenes. One is when Oscar Schindler collapses in tears because he believes he didn’t do enough. The fundamental goodness of this man and still he felt so helpless against the horrors around him.The other was the showers. The horrible dehumanization of people of all ages, sexes, and bodies forced to be naked together. The movie made understand the horrible things that happen to the helpless during conflicts. I think of it every time I read of genocide, of refugees, and of displaced people. I think it should be shown in every high school.

[katella]

I saw this film in Munich when it first came out. The theater was packed. An old man came in just after me and sat in the seat next to me. He sobbed during the entire film. This really was difficult. When it was over, i could hardly stand.

[BeCoShooter]

Saw it in a theater when first released. People were balling their eyes out.

[ba_carvajal]

Didn’t understand a word but their facial expressions tell me everything 😞

[ShogunateDaimyo]

Wow i find it amazing how humble the German people are on acknowledging their countries mistakes. I have a German friend and one of her favorite films is Inglorious Bastards.

[jonnybirchyboy]

The first guy was breaking down after watching the movie, he was speechless, damn

[smit]

"Schindler's List" (1993) is one of my favorite movies. I also think it is Steven Spielberg's greatest movie. The film certainly deserved to win Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. I am interested in reading or listening to the book, that the the film is based on for that matter.

[TheEnginator]

The movie was released nearly 50 years after the Holocaust and for the elderly this was something they personally experienced in their neighborhoods or at school or at work. Most adults could also ask their parents about it. Some "minor" perpatrators were also still alive and sadly lived a happy life.

[beautifulibra]

Love the movie-it’s just very hard to see because of the dehumanization. The pianist is an amazing movie as well (Adrian killed the role) but again hard to watch the second time. Both movies break my heart. Love them both

[whitetroutchannel]

my grandfather was an r.a.f. airman who was in bergen belsen on liberation day, this movie makes me understand why he never spoke a word about it