Daily Dialogue — January 21, 2014

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…
Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did.
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] 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] I could have gotten one more person… and I didn’t! And I… I didn’t!

— Schindler’s List (1993), screenplay by Steve Zaillian, book by Thomas Keneally

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is rescue, suggested by Despina. Today’s suggestion by Ellen Musikant.

Trivia: At his insistence, all royalties and residuals from this film that would normally have gone to director Steven Spielberg instead are given to the Shoah [Hebrew for Holocaust] Foundation, which records and preserves written and videotaped testimonies from survivors of genocide worldwide, including the Holocaust. — [Rescuing truth and memories.]

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Ellen: “Of course, all of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 salute to Oskar Schindler centers on rescue. We think of the film in terms of how Schindler saved hundreds of souls, but in this scene near the end of the film, Ben Kingsley’s character, Itzhak Stern, uses words to try to rescue Schindler from self-inflicted guilt and torment.”

NOTE: All you Daily Dialogue fans! How about some suggestions for this week’s theme? There are all sorts of rescues to draw on and I’m happy to fill out the slate this week, but I’d love to hear what some memorable scenes you have in mind. Thanks!

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