Pianist (The) 

Genre: war drama  

With: Adrien Brody (Wladyslaw Szpilman), Frank Finlay (his father), Maureen Lipman (his mother), Ed Stoppard (his brother Henryk), Emilia Fox (Dorota), Michal Zebrowski (Jurek), Thomas Kretschmann (Hosenfeld)

Director: Roman Polanski

Screenplay: Ronald Harwood (based on Wladyslaw Szpilman’s book)

Release: 2002

Studio: R.P. Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg, Runteam Ltd. et al.  

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.3/10

‟[God] wants us to survive. Well, that's what we have to believe.”

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Story-line: in September 1939, Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman and his family look on in despair as German forces invade their country. Their hope is rekindled when England declares war on Hitler’s Third Reich… but hope alone won’t alleviate the horrors they face daily.   

Pluses: an evenly professional cast led by Adrien Brody (an Oscar and César winner as Wladyslaw), strong direction and production values, a realistic screenplay capped by a memorable ending. 

Minuses: none I can think of.

Comments: although THE PIANIST does encroach upon SCHINDLER’S LIST early on as it describes the plight of the Jewish population of Poland, it diverges at some point to focus on one family and one atypical hero. As proof of its quality and universal value, this drama has drawn accolades in North America (other Oscars for direction and for adapted screenplay and also nominations for best picture, cinematography, costume design and film editing), in Great Britain (two BAFTAs), in Cannes (the Palme d’or) and in France (seven Césars overall).  

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