Where Was Schindler’s List Filmed?

of Where Was Schindler’s List Filmed? Varun Patel
June 27, 2020

There are a few movies that should be watched by everyone before they die. These movies not only survive the test of time but also end up speaking volumes about something innately human, making them classics. ‘Schindler’s List‘ is a movie that would make it to each and every list of such must-see movies. It was also the film that gave Spielberg his first Oscar. Apart from the Best Director award, the 1993 film won six other Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, apart from critical success, the movie also managed to be a commercial hit, raking in $322 million worldwide.

The movie is based on ‘Schindler’s Ark,’ the 1982 novel by Thomas Keneally. It revolves around Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who attempts to save more than 1,000 Polish-Jewish refugees during the Second World War. He attempts to protect them from the horrors of the Holocaust by making them employees in his factory. The character of Schindler is essayed by Liam Neeson. Ben Kingsley, on the other hand, plays the role of Itzhak Stern, Schindler’s Jewish accountant. Other cast members include Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagan, and multiple others.

Schindler’s List Filming Locations

‘Schindler’s List’ is set during the Second World War, mostly in Poland. To be more specific, the movie’s plot is mostly set in Krakow, one of the oldest cities in the country. In fact, the city’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hence, it is natural for viewers to wonder where ‘Schindler’s List’ was actually filmed.

Poland

Filming for ‘Schindler’s List’ was actually carried out in Poland. This is where the movie’s actual story takes place. That is the reason the movie manages to depict its setting authentically.

Within Poland, filming was actually carried out in the city of Krakow. However, the Plaszow labor camp does not exist anymore. A set for the labor camp was built in a quarry. The set consisted of 34 barracks and 7 watchtowers. The Amon Goeth villa was also recreated for filming purposes.

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Apart from that, several actual locations were also used for the movie’s filming. For instance, scenes set in Schindler’s apartment were filmed at his actual house on 7 Straszewskiego Street. However, the Zgoda Square ghetto was recreated in Szeroka Street. Next, the scene involving Poldek Pfefferberg escaping death was filmed on Ciemna Street. A courtyard on 12 Jozefa Street was where the scene wherein the Jews are expelled was shot. Pilsudski Bridge was also used as a filming location.

Additionally, the exterior of Schindler’s factory was actually shot outside Schindler’s factory on 4 Lipowa Street. The interiors, however, were filmed at an enamel factory in Olkusz. Church of St Mary was where the scene involving the Jews meeting was shot. Krakow Glowny railway station was also used to shoot a few scenes. Moving on, Niepolomice was where the Brinnlitz scenes were shot.

According to IMDb, filming was also carried out in Jerusalem in Israel.

Read More: Best Holocaust Movies

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