Hundreds of high school students got the chance to talk with Steven Spielberg about his film "Schindler's List" as part of the Los Angeles School District's social studies program.
The 1993 film tells the story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1,100 Jews from death during World War II. The film won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.
Teachers around the country have used the film to help teach history, tolerance and social justice.
The Los Angeles students watched the film on the district's educational TV station before meeting with Spielberg at the Hollywood American Legion's auditorium last week.
"I'm known for films that are more entertaining than thought-provoking," Spielberg said during the meeting. The director of "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Minority Report" fielded questions about everything from his favorite scene in the movie, to how many Jews were still alive that Schindler saved.
As it turned out, one was in the audience.
Leon Leyson, who was a child when he and his family were sent to Auschwitz, told the students he remembered the camp and Schindler.
"When I saw the movie, I was startled at how accurate it was," he told the students. "I could see my house, where I used to live."