The movie, Schindler’s List, opens and wins Spielberg his first Oscar award.

Schindler’s List is an American film about the true story of a German businessman who saves more than a thousand Polish Jewish refugees’ lives during the Holocaust.  The businessman, Oskar Schindler, was able to do this by employing the refugees in his factories.

On this day, December 15, in 1993, the film, directed by Steven Spielberg, opened in theaters.  It was based off of Thomas Keneally’s novel Schindler’s Ark.  The movie features Liam Neeson as Schindler, as well as Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley.  It was a box office success and was ranked eighth on the list of the 100 Best American Films of All-Time.

The film won Steven Spielberg his first Oscar award for Best Director.  It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and took home seven—including one for Best Picture.