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Witness: The Making of Schindler's List
This book is a moving testament to the making of an exceptional movie. It is also a unique insight into how Spielberg makes his momovies, illustrating the care and the detail which he employs to achieve authenticity. When Schindler's List was released in 1993 it was acclaimed as both a motion picture masterpiece and a reaffirmation of the human spirit. In 1994 it had 12 academy award nominations and won in 7 categories including Best Picture and Best director. This book isthe moving story of how Steven Spielberg spent 10 years bringing the Thomas Keneally's winning novel Schindler's Ark to the screen. Written by Franciszek Powleski - guide, interpreter and consultant on the 1989 Booker prize movie from Spielberg's 1st research visit to Poland in 1992 - it is part diary, part chronicle of the massive undertaking in bringing the story to the screen, and part witness to the responsiblity of telling the traumatic stories of the Schindler jews who are still alive today. The author acted as coordinator of the 1300 Schindler Jews who travelled from all over the world to participate in re-telling the wartime events. Leopold Pfefferberg who 1st inspire Thomas Keneally to write Schindler's story supplied the photographs which served as a model for recreating the past and many reproduced in this book for the 1st time.
- GenresHolocaust
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 15, 2012
First I'll say that this is not a book for a casual fan of the movie. It assumes a great deal of knowledge about the Holocaust, European history, and Schindler himself. The footnotes added by the translators that attempt to ameliorate that for the most part (in my opinion), fail by being too simplified or offering snippets out of context.
There were a couple of places where this book - which is a weird mix of diary and reporting - really annoyed me. In at least a couple of places the author (and even the translators) goes to great length to avoid admiting that during WWII, some Polish people were anti-semitic. It seems to be based on a reluctance to offend anyone. Ok, not offending people is fine, but trying to explain "There is a reason for the negative attitude on the part of some Polish people toward the Jews moving into the [Krakow] ghetto." without admitting that one of those reasons was base racism is absolutely ridiculous. I'm sure it's true that some of the angry Polish people were angry at being displaced for the sake of the Jews having a ghetto, but in point of fact their anger should have been directed at the Germans because the Jews didn't exactly ask to be put in a ghetto, and the reality is that many of those angry Polish people were simply racists. But neither the author nor the translators actually admit that - on more than one occasion - and that's sometimes annoying. Additionally, although this is a minor point, there are far too many places where the film credits of various people who worked on or visited or were considered for parts in the film are listed ad nauseum.
Those are essentially my only criticisms of this book, and clearly - based on the fact that I gave it 4 stars - they didn't really spoil it for me. The author was clearly extremely grateful for and moved by the opportunity to be so involved in the process of filming this movie. He explains clearly and usually succinctly the events of the planning and the filming. Without any arrogance, he seems to have considered himself something of a minor watchdog - being a journalist and knowing personally several "Schindler Juden" well before the making of the film. He never gives a "seal of approval;" he's not half arrogant enough for that. But he also doesn't try to hide that he admires Speilberg's work and his ways of going about his business with this film, both in terms of technical aspects and in larger terms of the subject. He's clearly proud to be Polish and was perhaps concerned that the film could make Poles look bad - and he's equally clearly grateful and pleased that such is not the case.
Palowski does a very nice job addressing Schindler detractors in a calm voice and simple language. That passage made up for a great deal of my annoyance over the anti-semitism thing discussed above.
For those interested in Schindler, or the Holocaust in social memory, this is a very worthwhile read. It was also interesting to read having just read Keneally's In Search of Schindler, in which he discussed his experiences writing the book. This book isn't quite analagous, since it's not written by Speilberg, but it still made a good pairing. I'm really glad I read this.
There were a couple of places where this book - which is a weird mix of diary and reporting - really annoyed me. In at least a couple of places the author (and even the translators) goes to great length to avoid admiting that during WWII, some Polish people were anti-semitic. It seems to be based on a reluctance to offend anyone. Ok, not offending people is fine, but trying to explain "There is a reason for the negative attitude on the part of some Polish people toward the Jews moving into the [Krakow] ghetto." without admitting that one of those reasons was base racism is absolutely ridiculous. I'm sure it's true that some of the angry Polish people were angry at being displaced for the sake of the Jews having a ghetto, but in point of fact their anger should have been directed at the Germans because the Jews didn't exactly ask to be put in a ghetto, and the reality is that many of those angry Polish people were simply racists. But neither the author nor the translators actually admit that - on more than one occasion - and that's sometimes annoying. Additionally, although this is a minor point, there are far too many places where the film credits of various people who worked on or visited or were considered for parts in the film are listed ad nauseum.
Those are essentially my only criticisms of this book, and clearly - based on the fact that I gave it 4 stars - they didn't really spoil it for me. The author was clearly extremely grateful for and moved by the opportunity to be so involved in the process of filming this movie. He explains clearly and usually succinctly the events of the planning and the filming. Without any arrogance, he seems to have considered himself something of a minor watchdog - being a journalist and knowing personally several "Schindler Juden" well before the making of the film. He never gives a "seal of approval;" he's not half arrogant enough for that. But he also doesn't try to hide that he admires Speilberg's work and his ways of going about his business with this film, both in terms of technical aspects and in larger terms of the subject. He's clearly proud to be Polish and was perhaps concerned that the film could make Poles look bad - and he's equally clearly grateful and pleased that such is not the case.
Palowski does a very nice job addressing Schindler detractors in a calm voice and simple language. That passage made up for a great deal of my annoyance over the anti-semitism thing discussed above.
For those interested in Schindler, or the Holocaust in social memory, this is a very worthwhile read. It was also interesting to read having just read Keneally's In Search of Schindler, in which he discussed his experiences writing the book. This book isn't quite analagous, since it's not written by Speilberg, but it still made a good pairing. I'm really glad I read this.
January 17, 2015
As an owner of the classic DVD, impatient for more details and stories involving the making of this movie, this book is a nice supplement. I love behind the scenes stories and the DVD does not include a commentary. The author, a veteran of Polish television, had the great opportunity to meet Steven Spielberg and follow the entire production around Krakow during the filming. He took careful notes and includes many fascinating "fly on the wall" tidbits observing the shooting of memorable scenes. One of my favorites includes the talented actor, Ralph Fiennes, wanting to portray his character Amon Goeth as accurately as possible, questioning one of the three real-life women whom Helen Hirsch was based on and making her shake with his quiet and cruel intimidation, even though he was just rehearsing for the camera.
The author also shares what it was like to be a bit player as an extra with a few speaking lines. Remember the scene at the train station when Schindler is frantically searching for his right-hand man while Jews are labeling their luggage? The voice of the man reassuring them that their bags will follow them later is none other than the author of this book!
The book ends with the complete transcript of the interview the author did on Polish television with "The Master" Steven Spielberg himself who shares even more heartwarming stories about how making this movie literally changed his life.
These are just some of the fascinating stories we get to read about. I found it hard to put the book down. It was a fast read but I recommend viewing the film first if you haven't seen it in awhile. A nice addition to any home library.
The author also shares what it was like to be a bit player as an extra with a few speaking lines. Remember the scene at the train station when Schindler is frantically searching for his right-hand man while Jews are labeling their luggage? The voice of the man reassuring them that their bags will follow them later is none other than the author of this book!
The book ends with the complete transcript of the interview the author did on Polish television with "The Master" Steven Spielberg himself who shares even more heartwarming stories about how making this movie literally changed his life.
These are just some of the fascinating stories we get to read about. I found it hard to put the book down. It was a fast read but I recommend viewing the film first if you haven't seen it in awhile. A nice addition to any home library.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews