Steven Spielberg Says This Is the Best Movie He’s Ever Made
Steven Spielberg has always been drawn to stories that carry deep personal meaning, and none more so than the story of Oskar Schindler.
Born into a Jewish family and aware of the losses his father experienced during the Holocaust, Spielberg felt a strong connection to Schindler’s tale. The story first reached him through Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel, Schindler’s Ark, and it stayed with him for years.
In an interview, Spielberg explained the long journey it took to bring the story to the screen. “Schindler’s List took me over a decade to do simply because I recognise its importance,” he said.
“I recognise also the extreme damage that could do if it was not made right, if it didn’t acquit the experiences of the Holocaust survivors with honour and remembrance then it would do more harm than good, and so the responsibility for me was daunting, so daunting it put me off the project for almost ten years until I was, I guess, emotionally ready.”
The 1993 release of Schindler’s List marked a significant shift for Spielberg. Known for more family-friendly blockbusters such as Hook and Always, he simultaneously worked on the action-packed Jurassic Park that same year.
Despite enjoying commercial success, Spielberg saw Schindler’s story as a moral responsibility. “It was something I wanted to leave behind for my kids, so when they said ‘dad, what did you do?’, that I could be proud of, instead of saying ‘well, all these big gothic audience entertainments,’ I could say, ‘here’s a piece of history you should know about, this is something that happened to our people and to all people,’” he said.
For Spielberg, the film represents the height of his artistic achievement. “I think Schindler’s List is the best film I’ve ever made,” he said. “I’m really happy that I’m able to say that I admit that I’ve made a picture that’s better than anything else I think I’ve ever made. It was a great honour that the film stimulated conversation everywhere in the world about the Holocaust and also allowed me to create the Survivors of the Shoah Foundation.”
It’s clear that Schindler’s List holds a special place in Spielberg’s heart, both as a work of art and as a meaningful contribution to history. The film not only brought the story of Oskar Schindler to millions but also gave Spielberg a chance to create something he could truly be proud of for his family and the world.
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