In-Class Movie

Oscar Shinler is a successful business man primarily due to the war. He financed his factory by borrowing money from Jewish people in the community. A member of the Nazi party and gives gifts to all high ranking fellow members.

Through the beginning of the movie, I discovered the corruption of the Nazis and how easily they could be paid off . Oscar Shinler essentially illuminated how paying off high ranking officials or giving out lavish gifts can make a huge impact. Obviously due to the war, Germans had all the power. So Jews were easily taken advantage of and used for the sole purpose of manual labor or simply making money for the Germans in power.  I also found it interesting that only the Jews that were “vital and useful to the war effort” were kept alive. It was so disturbing to see a man with only one arm shot on the spot, in front of women and children, because he was not “useful.”

It was shocking to see that even at the end of the war, Jews still feared for their lives. There really was not any point in time where they could be a peace with the world around them. It also surprised me that Oscar Shinler would risk his own life and riches for his fellow man. It appeared he only wanted to profit off the war, but really he had compassion for the Jewish People. It was horrible to see him fall to his knees in grief that he regretted not saving more lives. It is so unnerving that a war can physically, mentally, and emotionally destroy a person.

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