The Pianist Movie Review:


A commendable film about the Holocaust called The Grey Zone (2002) was released last fall and hardly anybody had the opportunity to see it. Focus
Features now releases another acclaimed Holocaust film called The Pianist, which follows the days of real-life Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman. Hopefully with the award buzz and recognition that The Pianist is receiving, many audiences might be able to see this film. Though The Pianist is a film that is very hard to watch, people should see this very powerful film about one of the darkest periods in history.

The film is based on the book by Szpilman, who
survived the Holocaust mostly by luck. The story
opens with the introduction of Szpilman as a
well-respected and talented pianist in Warsaw, Poland. After the Nazis take over the city during in 1941, Szpilman and his family face nearly every horror of the Holocaust.

Outside of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List
(1993), The Pianist is one of the best holocaust films ever made. Some of the situations and luck that Szpilman encounters seems almost too unlikely, but they did happen. Szpilman's memoir book was adapted to a screenplay by writer Ronald Harwood. The script itself is intriguing in its own way. There are many moments in the film where Szpilman is the only character on the screen and his quiet actions lead the audience to feeling or knowing what he is thinking. An example is the many moments when he is hiding in a
flat and must not make any noise at all. Szpilman's
story is a triumph of the human spirit, as well as a
nightmare that happened to him and all of the Jews
during the Holocaust. Outside of the survivors, no
one will really knows what people experience during
that time. The Pianist is a film that gives a slight
glimpse of the horror.

Most of The Pianist's greatness comes from the work by director Roman Polanski. Though Polanski is a controversial figure for being in trouble with the law in the United States (he had a sexual encounter with a minor many years ago). Polanski himself cannot step onto U.S. soil or he will be arrested for the charge. Shortly after the incident occurred, Polanski fled back home to Europe to avoid being arrested. Over the years, the media has calianist is a film that gives a slight glimpse of the horror.

Most of The Pianist's greatness comes from the work by director Roman Polanski. Though Polanski is a controversial figure for being in trouble with the law, he delivers a very exceptional film. Polanski himself was a survivor of the Holocaust. When he was seven years old, he was pushed through a barbwire fence by his father to pursue survival. There is a reminiscent scene in the film, when Szpilman tries to help a small boy through a hole in the wall that divides the city of Warsaw. Polanski and his father survived the Holocaust, but his mother did not. His work in this film is chilling, in which his own experiences probably are retold through many of Szpilman experiences. As a director, Polanski knows how to use
the point-of-view filmmaking element very well, and
Szpilman's point-of-view shot selection contributes
the witnessing moments of his character. Though
Polanski takes his time with the sequencing, as he
always does, his direction is honest, reticent, real
and bold.

Adrien Brody gives a courageously dynamic performance as the Holocaust pianist Szpilman. Brody actually lost weight by starving himself, learn to play the piano, and live a life of isolation to get into his character. There has been buzz that Brody will receive an Academy Award nomination for his work, he sure does deserve it. Thomas Kretschmann gives a note-worthy supporting performance as a Nazi that becomes in enticed by Szpilman's piano skills. The whole cast of the film is a competent ensemble, but the bulk of the movie is carried on Adrien Brody's shoulders.

Even though The Pianist is at moments too long, it is still a must-see film. Wladyslaw Szpilman was a hero, who had the courage to tell his incredible story through a novel. Now the novel has come to life on the screen. Polanski looks into one of the sullen times of history that is personal to him with this film. The result is a stirring emotional tale of human survival.

Report Card Grade: A-

Copyright, 2003

Joseph C. Tucker

Site Contents Copyright© The Z Review, unless used with permission.This site has no intention to infringe on the rights of the film owners of The Pianist and intellectual copyright holders of the movies mentioned herein & hold copyright over the movie, characters, merchandise & storyline.