One of the most
powerful scenes in cinema that I know of comes from the last few minutes of the
movie Schindler's List. Oskar Schindler runs a factory where hundreds of Jews
are employed. As the war goes on, more and more Jews are abused and taken away
to concentration camps. At first, Schindler feels that this is not his problem.
Eventually, he starts helping the Jews a little bit, but he doesn't go out of
his way to make a difference. By the end of the film, he has completely changed
and regrets that he did not do more to help.
Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't
know. If I'd just... I could have got more.
Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there
are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.
Oskar Schindler: If I'd
made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...
Oskar Schindler: I didn't
do enough!
Itzhak Stern: You did so
much.
[Schindler looks at
his car]
Oskar Schindler: This car.
Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right
there. Ten people. Ten more people.
[removing
Nazi pin from lapel]
Oskar Schindler: This pin.
Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it,
at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this.
[sobbing]
