On Fri, 10 Jun 1994, Steve . Kellman wrote:
 
> Though it is not an aesthetic justification, it should be noted that
> Spielberg's use of the red coat has precedent in the Thomas Keneally book
> from which he derived the story.  Keneally describes a little girl in
> Cracow who stands out from all the others by the brilliant red of her
> clothing.
 
  thank you for mentioning this -- the witnesses who told Keneally
of the Cracow round-up remarked on this small girl in her very red coat,
and how it seemed impossible that she wouldn't be seen by the Gremans.
It is an extraordinarily visual passage in the book.