The Pianist

The Pianist (2002) is a Biographical War Drama set during WII Poland during the Nazi invasion, and through to the end of the war. It follows the main character of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Pianist on the radio, and a Polish Jew. He lives with both his parents, two sisters, and a brother in the Warsaw District, when the Nazis invade Poland and begin their restrictions on Jewish life. While his family is condemned with the others of his religion, a family friend snatches Szpilman back from the walk to the train and he alone escapes.

The film is based on an autobiographical book by Wladyslaw Szpilman, originally written in Polish, called Śmierć Miasta (Death of a City). It was written shortly after The Soviet Union freed Poland from Nazi Reign in 1945. The publication of it was supressed, however, by the Stalinization in the area, until the late 1950's. The book was then republished by Wladyslaw's son in 1998, in German as Das Wunderbare Überleben (The Miraculous Survival), and then finally in English as The Pianist. The rights to the book were published by Roman Polanski, who wrote the screenplay, which won an oscar that year. The film took home two other oscars as well: Best Actor, and Best Director, in addition to being nominated for many others.

There are many films made in the last 20 years which follow stories set in the times of Nazi Rule. It's a popular subject to spread and be remembered, and wonderful protagonists are often found in the pages of documents from war times- especially in cases of Genocide (as are equally wonderful antagonists).
Some of the more popular of these stories are Schindler's List (1993) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008). Other popular films merely make reference to these hard times, such as Shutter Island (2010). The Pianist is a big piece, like the sword and sandal epics of old times in Rome or Greece. The costumes, scenery, dialogue, cinematography, and characters are extremely well-done. The piece is over two hours long, but shorter than Schindler's List, and stars Adrien Brody as Szpilman.

Because the film centers around a man who works as a Pianist, there are several wonderful compositions in this piece- including Nocturne by Chopin (which I believe ALSO makes an appearance in Shutter Island if I'm not mistaken). Truthfully, nearly every song on the soundtrack to The Pianist was composed by Frederic Chopin- all but one, titled Moving to the Ghetto Oct. 31, 1940 by Wojciech Kilar. There isn't enough Chopin left in mainstream media, and classical music nearly always fits scenes of violence to perfection (especially if you've ever seen A Clockwork Orange).

As is expected with Holocaust dramas, there are definitely gruesome moments in the film. But where Schindler's List (which is arguably the counterpart to this film) focuses on the tragedy of war, the destruction of families, and the cruelty of men, The Pianist follows one man's tale of survival in a time where he literally has no friends. There are intense themes of isolation, destruction of the world around the protagonist, and starvation is highlighted in this piece. I would not argue that one film is greater than the other, but I would certainly say that one is not good enough for both. Both of these films should be viewed (probably not in succession of one another to avoid a night filled with horrors).