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The Pianist

  • 20022002
  • 1515
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
799K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
469
51
The Pianist (2002)
Theatrical Trailer from Focus Features
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.

IMDb RATING
8.6/10
799K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
469
51
  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • Ronald Harwood(screenplay by)
    • Wladyslaw Szpilman(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Adrien Brody
    • Thomas Kretschmann
    • Frank Finlay
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • Ronald Harwood(screenplay by)
    • Wladyslaw Szpilman(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Adrien Brody
    • Thomas Kretschmann
    • Frank Finlay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 139Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #34
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 57 wins & 74 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Pianist
    Trailer 1:21
    The Pianist

    Photos199

    Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist (2002)
    Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist (2002)
    Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
    Adrien Brody, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Julia Rayner, Ed Stoppard, and Jessica Kate Meyer in The Pianist (2002)
    Roman Polanski and Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
    Roman Polanski in The Pianist (2002)
    Roman Polanski in The Pianist (2002)
    Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
    Roman Polanski in The Pianist (2002)
    Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
    Roman Polanski and Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
    Adrien Brody and Thomas Kretschmann in The Pianist (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Adrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    • Wladyslaw Szpilmanas Wladyslaw Szpilman
    Thomas Kretschmann
    Thomas Kretschmann
    • Captain Wilm Hosenfeldas Captain Wilm Hosenfeld
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Fatheras Father
    Emilia Fox
    Emilia Fox
    • Dorotaas Dorota
    Michal Zebrowski
    Michal Zebrowski
    • Jurekas Jurek
    Ed Stoppard
    Ed Stoppard
    • Henrykas Henryk
    Maureen Lipman
    Maureen Lipman
    • Motheras Mother
    Jessica Kate Meyer
    Jessica Kate Meyer
    • Halinaas Halina
    Julia Rayner
    Julia Rayner
    • Reginaas Regina
    Wanja Mues
    Wanja Mues
    • SS Slapping Fatheras SS Slapping Father
    Richard Ridings
    Richard Ridings
    • Mr. Lipaas Mr. Lipa
    Nomi Sharron
    • Feather Womanas Feather Woman
    Anthony Milner
    • Man Waiting to Crossas Man Waiting to Cross
    Lucy Skeaping
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    • (as Lucie Skeaping)
    Roddy Skeaping
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    Ben Harlan
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    Thomas Lawinky
    • Schutzpolizeias Schutzpolizei
    Joachim Paul Assböck
    Joachim Paul Assböck
    • Schutzpolizeias Schutzpolizei
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • Ronald Harwood(screenplay by)
      • Wladyslaw Szpilman(based on the book by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw. —Jwelch5742
    pianistholocaustsurvivalnazi occupied polandperson in a wheelchair falls from height174 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Music
      • War
    • Certificate
      • 15
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the shooting of the movie, while scouting locations in Krakow, Roman Polanski met a man who had helped Polanski's family survive the war.
    • Goofs
      When Szpilman is playing in the closing scenes, the piano's "Steinway & Sons" logo is the style first used in the 1990s.
    • Quotes

      Wladyslaw Szpilman: What are you reading?

      Henryk Szpilman: "If you prick us, do we not bleed? It you tickle us, we we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

      Wladyslaw Szpilman: [seeing that it is Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice] Very appropriate.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'The Pianist' (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Nocturne in C# Minor, Posthumous
      (1830)

      Written by Frédéric Chopin (as Fryderyk Chopin)

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Excellent, depressing, but excellent
    Man, I can not get this film out of my head. It is so rare that a movie can affect me the way "The Pianst" did. The last movie that did that was "Casino". I was really tired when I was watching the movie. It was almost midnight, so I was thinking that I'll start watching and I'll finish it in the morning. Did I? No, indeed I did not stop watching. I couldn't stop it. I just wanted to see what would happen next. I cried during "Schindler's List", I sobbed in this film. Everything that happens in this film is so sad. Adrien Brody does a remarkable job of acting in this film. I would very highly recommend this film. Especially if you are a history buff. Please, I think this film should be in the top 10 best films of all time.

    I looked on the message boards you know and some other user comments that didn't enjoy this film much, they criticized Adrien Brody's performance and say that he was boring and only showed emotions that are easy to act. Please, you have got to be kidding me. This man portrayed the total feeling of hopelessness, being alone, being hated. I one time had an audition in high school like this to see if I could improvise, and the way I imagined this feeling is like in dodgeball where you have no one else on your team and you're the only one left standing, yet on the other team there is 20 big men that are just waiting to wack that ball at you. Adrien couldn't have done a better job, I was so frightened for him and cried for him during the whole film while he was one the run.

    Roman Polanski as the director, he himself escaped the terrors of being a prisoner in The Holocaust, yet he lost his mother and other family members. Yes, I'm sure this film must have been hard to re create for him, but he was probably the only director that could have done this movie as brilliantly as he did. He created this story and made it so effective, I called up my mom and told her that I loved her so much because we take so many things for granted. True, this isn't the 1930's or 40's, and we are in America. But it's still frightening to think that human beings are capable of that much hate and being so brutal to another human.

    World War II is one of the most frightening wars in history, if you read more about The Holocaust, you get more into it and you should. If you are not interested, then watch this film. It's a must see, otherwise how else will we learn from our mistakes? The Pianist is a beautiful and extremely dark tale about a man and the struggle to survive. The ending is so powerful and moving to know that sometimes one man can make a difference in a crowd of so many and I'm not talking about Adrien Brody's character. You'll see what I mean.

    10/10
    helpful•409
    51
    • Smells_Like_Cheese
    • Nov 1, 2004

    FAQ17

    • Is the woman with the feather hat that asks Szpilman if he has seen her husband and to write to her if he does, based on a real person?
    • Is 'The Pianist' based on a book?
    • What song was Szpilman playing when...

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 24, 2003 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • Poland
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Focus Features (United States)
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Nghệ Sĩ Dương Cầm
    • Filming locations
      • Instalatorów, Ochota, Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
    • Production companies
      • R.P. Productions
      • Heritage Films
      • Studio Babelsberg
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $32,572,577
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $111,261
      • Dec 29, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $120,072,577
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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