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Why has Schindler’s List been controversial among some critics?

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Steven Spielberg wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, smiling at the camera on the red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival. — Steven Spielberg American motion-picture director and producer Steven Spielberg attending the premiere of *Inside Llewyn Davis* at the Cannes International Film Festival, France, 2013.

While Schindler’s List is widely regarded as a landmark of Holocaust cinema, it has faced criticism for several reasons regarding its narrative focus and historical representation:

Character Focus: Some critics have objected to the film’s emphasis on two members of the Nazi Party rather than centering the experiences of Jewish characters.1
Scope of Tragedy: Observers have noted that the film highlights the survival of a relatively small number of individuals, which some feel overshadows the millions who were murdered during the Holocaust.1
Simplification: Critics have argued that the film renders the Holocaust as a simplistic conflict between good and evil, failing to adequately capture the complexity of the era.1
Representation of Schindler: There is debate regarding the film’s portrayal of Oskar Schindler. Some argue the depiction is too generous, noting that Schindler was an opportunist who profited from the Nazi seizure of Jewish-owned businesses. Additionally, historians like David Crowe have pointed out that Schindler had limited involvement in the actual compilation of the list that bears his name, leading some to argue that the film fails to fully reckon with his personal flaws.1