Films have a huge impact on the human mind. Films can communicate, embody and articulate the effectiveness of behaviours of leadership.

Hollywood has a variety of award-winning films that portray the heroism and sacrifices of different military leaders in battlefield.

Schindler’s List

Film. Schindler’s List is an American epic historical period drama film released in 1993, directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally.

Plot. Schindler’s List illustrates the profoundly nightmarish Holocaust. It re-creates a dark, frightening period during World War II, when Nazi-occupied Krakow first dispossessed Jews of their businesses and homes, then placed in ghettos and forced labour camps in Plaszow, and finally resettled in concentration camps for execution. Oskar Schindler, a German businessperson and an opportunist member of the Nazi party acquires a factory for the production of mess kits and cooking paraphernalia. Without prior experience, he gained a contact, Itzhak Stern, who has links with the underground Jewish business community in the ghetto. They loan him the money for the factory in return for a small share of products produced for trade in the black market. Schindler witnesses the horrifying visions of the Holocaust and the toll it takes on the Jewish people. Schindler’s motivations switch from profit to human sympathy and by lavishly bribing the SS officials; he is able to save over 1,100 Jews from death in the gas chambers.

Leadership Aspects

Two distinct and extreme leadership pattern are visible for two characters in this movie.

Oskar Schindler is the transformational leader Schindler is a perceptive, charismatic businessperson who can do anything to make a fortune. Schindler slowly transforms to a courageous, sympathetic leader determined to use his power and persuasive charisma for the betterment of the Jews. Sacrificing his safety and wealth to help others, Schindler bravely stands up for what he believes in through bribing Nazi/SS commanders to protect his Jewish workers and keep his factory a safe “sub-camp” for them. Demonstrating courage, kindness, assertiveness, and charisma all in the face of one of history’s most ruthless regimes Schindler provides an extraordinary example of leadership.

Nazi commander Amon Goeth is an autocratic leader, using a ruthless, authoritarian leadership style to assert his power and control over the Jews of the Plaszów work camp. Deeply rooted in Nazi philosophy, Goeth rarely listens to input from others, refuses to admit he is wrong for fear of showing weakness and dictates all decisions in the camp–including shooting random prisoners from his Villa balcony for fun.

Recommendations

In the war movies the heroes display different types of leadership ranging from transformational, ethical, and transactional to situational.

Young military leaders can benefit from watching these war films, because it helps in shaping their behaviour in professional roles.

Therefore, leadership educators should include different historic war films in their course curricula.

This film is highly recommended to be included in the list for leadership series.

Titbits.

This movie is often listed among the greatest films ever made. It has won seven Academy Awards (out of twelve nominations), including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score, as well as numerous other awards (including seven BAFTAs and three Golden Globes). In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked the film 8th on its list of the 100 best American films of all time (American Film Institute, 2007). The Library of Congress (2004) selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Which is your favourite war movie?

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References

Lavella, N. (2013, February 25). Evaluating ethics and leadership in Schindler’s List. http://cronkitehhh.jmc.asu.edu/blog/2013/02/evaluating-ethics-and-leadership-in- schindlers-list/

Kirkpatrick, T. (2017, May 18). 8 awesome enlisted leaders depicted in war movies. https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/8-awesome- enlisted-leaders-depicted-in-war-movies.

Guthrie, K. L., & Jenkins, D. M. (2018). The role of leadership educators: Transforming learning. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Meridian: Knowledge Solution. (2016, April 6). Leadership styles of characters from Quentin Tarantino movies. Retrieved on November 27, 2018 from https://www.meridianks.com/leadership-styles-of-characters-from-quentin-tarantino- movies/

Rajendran, D., & Andrew, M. (2014). Using film to elucidate leadership effectiveness models: Reflection on authentic learning experiences. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 11(1), 8.

Ten short stories with deep meanings.

1) She was very excited today, as the school was re-opening after a long summer break. Now, once again, she could start selling stationery at the traffic signal to feed her family.

2) She, a renowned artist and a strict mother, often scolded her 6-year-old son for he could never draw a line straight. As he breathed slowly into the ventilator, she begged him to make one more crooked line on the ECG.

3) “Everyone goes with the flow… but the one who goes against it becomes someone remarkable.” Before I could explain this to the traffic police, the man issued me a fine.

4) Their love was different. She was happy every time he kicked her in the stomach. Every time he kicked she loved him more. She waited for the time she would hold her baby for the first time.

5) All my toys are yours..! Read her brother’s death note.

6) They took his father, and only returned a flag.

7) At 25, I became a mother of one; at 27 I became a mother of two; and today, at 55, I have become a mother of three! My son got married today, and brought home his wife!

8) “Born to rich parents, this boy is so lucky,” exclaimed the neighbours! Somewhere in heaven, three unborn sisters cried.

9) “You ruined my career, I was supposed to be an Executive Director,” she thought to herself. The little angel held her finger tightly and she forgot everything; a mother was born.

10) Once a 5-year-old boy was standing barefoot in the shallow water of the ocean. He was repeating the same sentence to the waves – “Even if you touch my feet a thousand times, I won’t forgive you for taking my parents away.

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