The Pianist Movie Review 2002

Polanski effectively turns his personal knowledge of the Holocaust into a spellbinding portrait of fellow Holocaust survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman, the renowned Polish-Jewish pianist of the title. Brody's dead-on portrayal of Szpilman, who as a gifted artist scarcely believes he will be affected by the war, effectively registers the horrifying transition from life of luxury to ending up in the Warsaw ghetto. An interesting feeling of hopefulness that lies beneath the barbarism shows Polanski's attention to the humanity and kindness that still may be found in the most savage conditions, and winningly captures the feel of one of recent history's darkest times. Based on the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 148 minutes.
Originally from French, Polish, German, British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, Biopics: Musicians, The Holocaust, Judaism, Nazis & Other Paramilitary Slugs, Survival, Eastern Europe, Period Piece: 1940s, Adapted from Memoirs or Diaries

Screenplay

Ronald Harwood

Cast

Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer, Ruth Platt

Cinematography

Pawel Edelman

Director

Roman Polanski

Music

Wojciech Kilar

Other

Jean-Marie Blondel, Herve De Luze, Anne Sheppard, Allan Starski

Producer

Roman Polanski, Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde, Focus Features

Awards

Oscars 2002: Actor (Brody), Adapt. Screenplay, Director (Polanski); British Acad. 2002: Director (Polanski), Film; Cannes 2002: Film; Natl. Soc. Film Critics 2002: Actor (Brody), Director (Polanski), Film, Screenplay.