Kraków is the largest international tourist destination in Poland, and while its gorgeous, well-preserved Old Town and idyllic location on the Vistula river are the city's biggest selling points today, there was one particular event that brought the city back into the world's contemporary consciousness...
When the time came, however, Spielberg worked closely with Holocaust survivor and historian Simon Wiesenthal, as well as survivors and experts in the field, to ensure that the film was as accurate as possible. He also insisted on filming the movie in black and white, a decision that was controversial at the time but one that he felt was necessary. Aside from capturing the starkness and bleakness of the concentration camps, Spielberg has also stated that 'I only know the Second World War in black and white,' referring to the newsreel footage of the conflict that he obsessed over in his younger years. The pained violin solos of John Williams incredibly emotional score, the gorgeous cinematography of Janusz Kamiński (in the first of many collaborations with Spielberg), and the decision to film on location in Kraków and Oświęcim (the Polish name for Auschwitz) all gave the film a deep emotional resonance that stayed with viewers after the credits rolled. The critical and commercial success of Schindler's List, including seven Academy Awards and a legacy that lasts to this day, is what first put Kraków in the conscience of millions of cinema-goers and also jump-started tourism in the area. In this article, we point out some key locations in and around Kraków that can still be visited today. NOTE: The movie clips that we have included in this article contain content that may be distressing to some viewers.
