1. The first spoken word in the movie is "Name."
   
   What names appear on the screen?
   
   Why are names so important in this film?


2. The original title of the story was Schindler's Ark. What is the difference between that title and the title of the movie?
   
   What does the title of the movie refer to? Who makes the various lists that appear in the movie?


3. Why does the filmmaker colorize portions of the film? How does the technique underscore the themes of the movie?


4. In performing their work, German officials frequently used euphemisms, such as "special treatment," to describe what they did. Why would they do that?
   
   How did the Jews use ambiguity of language to help themselves?


5. How does the film explain Schindler's transformation from a war profiteer to a rescuer of Jews?
   
   What is the role of his wife, Emilie Schindler?


6. How did Jews save themselves? What is the role of human ingenuity as opposed to dumb luck?
   
   Could the Jews have done something else that might have altered their fate? What would be the consequences of alternative actions?


7. Based on this movie, to what extent do individuals make history? To what extent are they shaped by their times?


8. Half century after it occurred, why does the Jewish Holocaust remain a controversial subject?


9. Some say that the Jewish Holocaust was a unique, incomparable event. Do you agree?
   
   Are there other episodes of genocide that can be compared to the experience of Jews during World War II?


10. At the end of World War II, the victor nations held war crime trials at Nuremberg. What are war crimes?
    
    Are there acceptable justifications for war crimes?
    
    What are appropriate punishments for war criminals?

Links:

http://www.ushmm.org

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