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The Pianist

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
810K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
718
34
The Pianist (2002)
Theatrical Trailer from Focus Features
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Music
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
8.5/10
810K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
718
34
  • 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
    • 142Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #33
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 57 wins & 74 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Pianist
    Trailer 1:21
    The Pianist

    Photos202

    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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
    To hell and back.
    The Pianist is an incredible film in many aspects. Roman Polanski's account of the survival of the pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, is a document about how one man can overcome the worst possible situations in a world gone completely mad around him.

    The only fault one can find with the adaptation of Mr. Szpilman's story by playwright Ronald Harwood, is the fact that we never get to know the real Wladyslaw Szpilman, the man, as some of the comments made to this forum also have indicated.

    There is a very interesting point raised by the the pianist's father who upon reading something in the paper, comments about how the Americans have forgotten them. Well, not only the Americans, but the rest of the world would not raise a finger to do anything for the people that were being imprisoned and made to live in the confined area of Warsaw. The exterminating camps will come later.

    What is amazing in the film, is the frankness in which director Polanski portrays the duplicity of some Jews in the ghetto. The fact that Jews were used to control other Jews is mind boggling, but it was a fact, and it's treated here matter of factly. Had this been made by an American director, this aspect would have never surfaced at all. Yet, Mr. Polanski and Mr. Harewood show us that all was not as noble and dignified as some other films have treated this ugly side of war.

    Wladyslaw Szpilman, as played by Adrien Brody, is puzzling sometimes, in that we never get to know what's in his mind. He's a man intent in not dying, but he's not a fighter. He accepts the kindness extended to him. He never offers to do anything other than keep on hiding, which is a human instinct. He will never fight side by side with the real heroes of the ghetto uprising. His role is simply to witness the battle from his vantage point in one of the safe houses across the street from where the action takes place.

    Adrien Brody is an interesting actor to watch. As the pianist of the story he exudes intelligence. There is a scene where Szpilman, in one of the safe houses he is taken, discovers an upright piano. One can see the music in his head and he can't contain himself in moving his fingers outside the closed instrument playing the glorious music from which he can only imagine what it will sound in his mind.

    The supporting cast is excellent. Frank Findlay, a magnificent English actor is the father of the pianist and Maureen Lipman, another veteran of the stage, plays the mother with refined dignity.

    In watching this film one can only shudder at the thought of another conflict that is currently brewing in front of our eyes. We wonder if the leaders of the different factions could be made to sit through a showing of The Pianist to make them realize that war is hell.
    helpful•174
    50
    • jotix100
    • Jan 21, 2003

    FAQ16

    • Is 'The Pianist' based on a book?
    • What song was Szpilman playing when...
    • What is Dorota playing on the cello when Szpilman is hiding in her house?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 28, 2003 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Poland
      • Germany
      • 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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