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The Pianist (2002) 8.5
Ratings:
8.5/10 from 268,853 users
Metascore: 85/100
Reviews: 701 user | 186 critic | 40 from Metacritic.com A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II. Director:Roman Polanski |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Adrien Brody | ... | ||
| Emilia Fox | ... | ||
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Michal Zebrowski | ... | |
| Ed Stoppard | ... | ||
| Maureen Lipman | ... | ||
| Frank Finlay | ... | ||
| Jessica Kate Meyer | ... | ||
| Julia Rayner | ... | ||
| Wanja Mues | ... | ||
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Richard Ridings | ... | |
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Nomi Sharron | ... | |
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Anthony Milner | ... |
Man Waiting to Cross
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Lucy Skeaping | ... |
Street Musician
(as Lucie Skeaping)
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Roddy Skeaping | ... |
Street Musician
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Ben Harlan | ... |
Street Musician
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A brilliant pianist, a Polish Jew, witnesses the restrictions Nazis place on Jews in the Polish capital, from restricted access to the building of the Warsaw ghetto. As his family is rounded up to be shipped off to the Nazi labor camps, he escapes deportation and eludes capture by living in the ruins of Warsaw. Written by Anonymous
Taglines:
Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for violence and brief strong language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
28 March 2003 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El pianista See more »Box Office
Budget:
$35,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$115,690 (Hong Kong) (21 March 2003)Gross:
$32,519,322 (USA) (30 May 2003)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (DVD edition)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Dorota: [running from bombing] Mr. Szpilman?
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Hello.
Dorota: Oh, I came specially to meet you. I love your playing.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Who are you?
Dorota: My name is Dorota. I, I'm Jurek's sister... You're bleeding.
See more »
(1830-31)
Written by Frédéric Chopin (as Fryderyk Chopin)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Over 1,400 actors auditioned for the role of Wladyslaw Szpilman at a casting call in London. Unsatisfied with all who tried, director Roman Polanski sought to cast Adrien Brody, who he saw as ideal for the role during their first meeting in Paris, around the time Brody was shooting The Affair of the Necklace. See more »Goofs
When Wladyslaw Szpilman crawls past the woman who was shot in the back and died kneeling in front of the hospital (before she reached the staircase), she has moved forward visibly (and is now in front of the stairs). See more »Quotes
[first lines]Dorota: [running from bombing] Mr. Szpilman?
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Hello.
Dorota: Oh, I came specially to meet you. I love your playing.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Who are you?
Dorota: My name is Dorota. I, I'm Jurek's sister... You're bleeding.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Aside from the Universal and Focus Features credits, there are no opening credits. All credits, including the title, appear at the end of the film. See more »Soundtracks
"Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22 - Allegro Molto"(1830-31)
Written by Frédéric Chopin (as Fryderyk Chopin)
See more »
Polanski has depicted the gory details of the holocaust without much restraint. But, the most wonderful aspect of the film is that the director has not lost focus of his story and instead of focusing too much on the holocaust horror he has weaved the true-life narrative of survival around devillish happenings.
Every single act of escapade Szpilman goes through is depicted like a drop of water on a barren desert. However, the Oasis in the driest desert comes in the end and it is here that Polanski captures the essence of human emotion. I had this very strong urge of jumping into the theater screen and magically adopting a character in the movie and doing something about the helplesness portrayed so convincingly.
Overall, Polanski has given a stunning visual narrative of the cold war. Survival indeed is a privilege though it is taken for granted today. Performances by Brody, Kretschmann deserve applause.
Pawel Edelman's camera work is moving and he has brilliantly captured the dark sadness in the visual canvas in an effective way. The lighting is amazing. Pre-dawn shooting schedule could have helped a great deal.
Hervé de Luze's editing work has ensured that the narrative does not slip away from focus. Most notable is the scene where the human bodies are lit on fire and the camera raises to show the smoke. The darkness of the smoke is enhanced and is used effectively to fade the scene out.
The scene where Brody's fingers move as he rests his hands on the bars of the tram handle only goes to show the brilliance of Polanski as a film-maker.
Great film that will be in the running for this year's Oscars. I will give it a 9 Out of 10.