R.I.P. Branko Lustig (1932-2019)

Brank Lustig

On November 14, 2019, film producer Branko Lustig passed away at the age of 87 in Zagreb, Croatia. He is currently the only person in history from the territory of present-day Croatia to have won two Oscars. Over the course of his career, he produced meaningful dramas that reflected his personal connections to the Holocaust and general oppression. He won Best Picture twice for the films Schindler's List and Gladiator. From then he continued to use his influence to good, making Hollywood a more empathetic place while making great art. He will be missed. 

Nothing But the Best: "Schindler's List" (1993)

Scene from Schindler's List

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.

"Schindler's List" Producer Donates Oscar to Holocaust Museum

Branko Lustig

In 1993, director Steven Spielberg released one of the most powerful films about World War II called Schindler's List. Following the events of the Holocaust from the perspective of the imprisoned Jews and a few key Nazis, it is a film that over 20 years later still manages to resonate. It is a powerful story of doing the right thing and being as helpful as you can. It expectantly won Best Picture along with a series of other awards. Yesterday, its legacy got its own public display when producer Branko Lustig decided to donate his award to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.