The Girl In The Red Coat Analysis

The Girl in the Red Coat is perhaps the most moving and important image in the movie Schindler’s List created by Steven Spielberg. This movie is based on a book by the name of Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally. The movie is based somewhat loosely on an actual historic event. Schindler’s List takes its name from Oskar Schindler, who was a real historical figure credited with saving the lives of over a thousand Jews (O’Neil). Schindler’s List is a movie that is primarily in black and white. This photo is one of four scenes in the entire movie that has color. The photo depicts a young girl, dressed in a bright red coat, creating a stark contrast against the black and white background. The red of the coat according to Spielberg was to remind
On one side it depicts the horror and brutality suffered by millions during the Holocaust. On another side it is photo condemning the world that allowed such a thing to happen. Spielberg later said that the symbolism of the red of the coat was testament to the inaction of the world in the face of such atrocity. He said “"America and Russia and England all knew about the Holocaust when it was happening, and yet we did nothing about it. We didn't assign any of our forces to stopping the march toward death, the inexorable march toward death.” (Steven Spielberg) In other words as countless children like this little girl were led towards their death, the world watched. The world watched and yet did nothing. The purpose and message of the photograph is clear to see. This is a message to world portraying what can happen and has happened when it turns a blind eye to the suffering of innocents. It is meant to evoke feelings of horror and disgust at the plight of the people in the photograph and to stir feelings of guilt at the silence of the world towards such unspeakable acts. There is hope that such feelings will galvanize the world in to taking action to prevent such atrocities from happening