The Pianist

Wladyslaw Szpilman, a classical pianist, was about 27 years old when the Nazi German army invaded Poland in 1939. He and has family lived in Warsaw. Szpilman survived the war and wrote a memoir in journal format, which Roman Polanski used as the basis for this film.

This is a horror story that details Szpilmans survival, his fortitude through the ordeal and the part that music played in supporting him. It is not an easy film to experience. One might consider the inhuman treatment of the Jews by the Nazis to be unique, except that this same inhumanity still occurs today in Africa, has occurred in America and has pervaded Middle Eastern history.

A short segment of film footage taken by the Nazis, apparently to document their conquest, is slipped into the beginning of this film. The images of those real victims of the past shocked me. It reinforced the realization that this did happen.

The bonus materials on the reverse side of the DVD include a long segment titled Story of Survival, in which Polanski describes his efforts to accurately recreate this history. Although the screenplay injected drama, it stayed true to Szpilmans journal and he filmed as much as he could of the story in Warsaw.

Polanski was also in Poland during this period as a boy and he escaped from a compound in which Jews were being held. He convinced a Jewish turncoat guard to let him go home for food. The guard cautioned him not to run, and that event is captured in this film. He also saw his father struck in the face by a Nazi, a woman shot for asking a question and a street full of furniture, suitcases and belongings with no Jews left. These specific Polanski memories are incorporated in the film.

The Story of Survival also has more film footage by the Nazis. Polanski studied these German films in order to more accurately document the scenes for his film and if you watch this after watching The Pianist, you will see how he used these images.

Adrien Brody plays Szpilman. In order to become Szpilman for the film, he left his family and possessions behind so he could experience the loss, starved himself during the take, losing 30 pounds and took intensive piano lessons before and during the filming. I last saw him in Harrisons Flowers (2000) where I thought his acting ability stood out. He is utterly believable in this role. It won him an Oscar for best actor.

Polanski began his career acting in the mid 50s. His successes directing Rosemarys Baby (1968) and Chinatown (1974) launched his US career. Tess (1979), dedicated to his murdered wife, Sharon Tate, won several Oscars. But convicted of statutory rape, he fled from the US and his career dwindled until this film. He was awarded an Oscar for best director.

Unfortunately, Szpilman never got to see the film. He died at age 88 in July, 2000. There are clips of him performing in Story of Survival.

Reviewed June 11, 2003