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Although I have an inexplicable and totally unfounded dislike for Roman Polanski (possibly something to do with a dirty old man stigma), I have to admit that he is responsible for some particularly well made movies. Many of the Polanski films I have seen and liked (such as Rosemary’s Baby and Bitter Moon) were seeped in mystery and twists and turns, but the Pianist isn’t like that at all. It’s much more of a straightforward, yet horrifying story.
The Pianist tells the true story of the Jewish Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman who lived with his family in Warsaw when Germany invaded in September 1939. On the day of the invasion, the family gathers around the wireless for news. On hearing that both France and Great Britain have declared war on Germany, they drink a toast, laughing and dancing, convinced it will last only a matter of weeks. It lasted 6 years of course and the film portrays Szpilman’s immense struggle to survive throughout the war and the German atrocities.
Most of us have seen countless Holocaust films, some more shocking than others, but always shocking. Watching scenes depicting inhumanity and cruelty on a personal level, rather than on a statistical “six-million Jews were killed” level is often much more disturbing and The Pianist consists of 150 minutes of such scenes, interspersed with human kindness here and there. As we follow Szpilman, day by day, month by month, year by year, the film occasionally drags a little, but at the same time it effectively conveys how Szpilman himself was probably feeling, namely “will this ever end?”. Betrayal and death is around every corner and Polanksi keeps you on the edge of your seat consistently, wondering if Szpilman will get out of each situation alive.
Adrien Brody (who I had never heard of, actually) fitted the part of Szpilman perfectly and received an Oscar for his role (replacing Richard Dreyfuss as the youngest actor ever to win Best Actor Academy Award). Apparently, to prepare for his role and connect with the feeling of loss, Brody lost 14 kilogrammes, got rid of his apartment, sold his car and watched no television. It worked. Supporting roles were very well cast too; the only one that bothered me was Emilia Fox as Dorota. She’s a British actress I had seen once in the lead role of a BBC TV drama called Bright Hair in which she was excellent (as a rather weird, psychic young girl). However, I felt that her acting was below par in The Pianist as she just whispered all the time and stared into space.
The cinematography is beautiful, except for the shots of the Jewish ghetto burning in Warsaw which looked terrifically fake and computer generated, which was a shame. 150 minutes is a little long, but Polanski has succeeded in recounting the horrific events between 1939 and 1945 in a touching and truly personal story.
****/5
suzero (90 posts)Suzanna Noort - TV/video director/editor and multimedia something. Amsterdam, Netherlands
9 Comments
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As a Polish Jew and holocaust survivor, Polanski brings an important cinematic perspective to this story. Yes, this genre of film is difficult to watch, that’s why it’s so important for us to see it. To look at our selves and confront the human capacity for cruelty and hopefully learn the lesson through constant vigilance, so that such things will never happen again. Unfortunately it still does happen.
Native New Yorker and son of photojournalist, Sylvia Plachy, Adrian Brody is a terrific actor and if you are interested in seeing some other great performances by him check out:
Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam (1999)”
Comment by denise — Mon August 18, 2003 @ 10:32The Thin Red Line (1998)
New York Stories (1989)
I also thought this film was a great film though Schindler’s List is still the defining Holocaust film for me – especially with its incredibly moving ending putting it into present-day context.
I also thought The Pianist dragged on a bit but I agree too it did convey that sense of ‘will this ever end?’. I also found it interesting that it focused on the ghetto/occupation rather than the concentration camps.
And being a huge Chopin fan I also particularly loved the scenes where Szpilman played.
I’ve just watched a French-Dutch documentary which you might like when you’re back in Holland, Suz. It’s called Bach in Auschwitz (1999) and is about the women’s orchestra that was in the camp, under the baton of Alma Ros’, Mahler’s niece.
I’m researching Ros’ for an article so watching stuff of this nature. Very sad of course but well worth seeing.
Comment by pip — Mon August 18, 2003 @ 13:15And of course ‘Shoah’, by Claude Lanzmann. Almost 10 hours of heartbreak. Dramatised, but a brilliant document.
Comment by reisneus — Thu August 21, 2003 @ 10:18It’s easy to understand why the Pianist recieved so much attention and there’s no denying that it is a superbly well made, personal and emotional film. The problem I had with it is, no matter how good Adrien Brody is, and he is superb, he’s just an observer. Of course that’s how Szpilman survived, by staying hidden and detatching himselff rom what’s going on around him, but for a character in a movie, and in particular a main protaganist, the one person we’re supposed to be rooting for – the distance he seems to hold from all the events seems to dilute the effects somewhat. Polanski must be praised for his straight faced approach – there’s no Spielberg like cinematic tug at the heartstrings here, no sentimentality, but it’s a film that would find myself hard pressed to return too. The imagery is truly haunting and the events described throughout are truly brutal and harrowing, but it feels more like a snapshot of history, almost a history lesson because the narrative isn’t that strong.
Comment by damian — Thu January 15, 2004 @ 14:48I am totally awestruck by this movie. I only have seen it once but it has scourged by soul but in a good way. The scenes in which we see Adrien Brody alone are so impressive… and I am a pianist myself (although far from able to play most pieces played in this movie – although this movie taught me to play the Nocturne in C#m by Chopin where the movie starts off with interrupted by the bombing).
What was an extra feature for me is the fact I am a huge fan of the music by Chopin and the piece Brody plays for the German officer that eventually saves his life is one of my favorite pieces (too bad the second of the two main gorgeous themes isn’t played – for your information the piece is called Ballad in G minor opus 23 by Chopin)
Comment by Arjan — Thu January 15, 2004 @ 14:57I agree with Damian comment. I found it sometimes difficult to sympathise for Brody’s character as his survival seems to exist solely of detaching himself from the events around him. You want him to get mad, angry, vengeful (his whole family is wipes out!) but he seems lethargic and awestruck.
It was somewhat annoying but very intriguing at teh same time. It shows that man will do anything to survive, even deny his own existence.
I really loved the scene where he played for the German officer. The combination of all that emotion and fantastic music (always a good combination) realy brought a lump to my troath. One point of critique is the somewhat rushed ending, which collided very much with the general slow pace of the entire movie.
Comment by Paco — Thu June 3, 2004 @ 0:43Hello, I’m an avid fan of Chopin and an amateure pianist. If somebody know, it would be a great help for me. I m anxious to know what is the piece that Adrien Brody is interpreting as a working pianist in the restaurant when he is stopped by the man he wants to test the coins. It’s a piece that soundtrack doesn’t contain. If somebody has recognise it, please inform me!
Comment by Kalliope — Fri July 1, 2005 @ 16:20All I know right now is that he’s playing the nocturne in C# minor (posth) at the beginning and the Ballad in G Minor (opus 23) to the german officer in the house… will get into the other piece
Comment by arjan — Sat July 2, 2005 @ 11:51I second Kalliope’s question. Will someone PLEASE find out what is the piece that Adrien Brody was playing when he was working in the restaurant?? That piece is not in the soundtrack (and it really should be). If anyone knows please post! Thanks.
Comment by Anthony — Sun January 8, 2006 @ 11:58