A powerful and ‘masterpiece of cinema’ chronicling the genuine atrocities of WWII and the holocaust airs on BBC2 this evening.

Schindler’s List recounts the remarkable true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman and member of the Nazi Party who rescued more than 1,200 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by giving them employment in his manufacturing plants, evolving from a profit-driven opportunist into an altruistic hero who corrupted officials to shield his employees from death camps.

Released in 1993, the film charts Schindler’s transformation whilst exposing the barbarism of that period, especially through his dealings with brutal SS commander Amon Göth, culminating in the compilation of his renowned “list” of indispensable personnel, sparing them from annihilation.

The production concentrates on the authentic brutality of WWII and the holocaust, earning widespread acclaim for its depiction. It secured 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg.

Numerous cinema enthusiasts have lauded its filming in monochrome to recreate 1940s newsreel imagery and amplify historical authenticity, reports <a href=”https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/most-powerful-war-film-ever-36551678″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>the Mirror</a>.

Boasting an exceptional ensemble cast with Liam Neeson portraying Oskar Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as SS commander Amon Göth and Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern. The production was additionally helmed by Holocaust survivor Branko Lustig, who appears as a maître d’ hotel in the picture.

On the film ratings platform Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an impressive 98 per cent score on the Tomatometer, accompanied by numerous five-star reviews.

One glowing five-star review said: “The genuinely emotional film ever made. One of the 10 masterpieces in cinema.”

Another viewer added: “Can’t really find my words to describe how i felt the first time i saw this movie . I was young and couldn’t really imagine how cruel the human can be. The movie is a pure beauty and the music couldn’t fit better.

“It’s hard to rewatch it but the timeless part of it makes the movie watchable at any time any year with every kind of public.

“Spielberg’s Heartbreaking Masterpiece is a very powerful description of how one man saved other’s lives from death during one of the darkest moments in human history. I remember crying a lot,” remarked another fan.

A fourth reviewer said: “To be honest I think this is the most important movie ever made. An absolute masterpiece.

“Where do you start? The score? The writing? The acting? The direction? Everything is 100% on point. Fiennes performance shames unworthy Oscar winners before and since-incredible.

“Neeson gives the performance of his life. Spielberg delivers arguably his greatest film.

“And it’s black and white apart from the little girl in that red dress. The ghetto liquidation is one of the most harrowing scenes in mainstream cinema history. Always as relevant as it is brilliant,” a fifth fan added.

Another said: “Heartbreaking, Tragic, Tear Jerking, but also Fantastic, Realistic, Well Written and Acted, and Phenomenally told. Schindlers List is an example of a perfect movie, and deserves all the praise it gets. If there’s any WW2 film to watch, this is it.”

Schindler’s List airs on Sunday 18 January on BBC2 at 10pm.