Directed by:
Roman PolańskiScreenplay:
Ronald HarwoodCinematography:
Pawel EdelmanComposer:
Wojciech KilarCast:
Adrien Brody, Emilia Fox, Michał Żebrowski, Ed Stoppard, Maureen Lipman, Frank Finlay, Jessica Kate Meyer, Wanja Mues, Richard Ridings, Anthony Milner (more)VOD (3)
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Oscar winner Adrien Brody stars in this epic true-life story of brilliant pianist and composer Wladyslaw Szpilman, an acclaimed musician who survived WWII with the help of a German officer. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
Another film that shows us, unaware viewers, that Jews had it very hard during WWII… Downplaying this topic is the last thing I want to do, but I really don’t need to see the hundredth film about the one and the same thing. The shallow parade of suffering by secondary characters, who show up, die or cry, only to be completely forgotten later by the script, can’t arouse any emotions in me. What’s a lot more impressive, though, is the almost post-apocalyptic survival storyline later in the film (if the entire film had that sharpness and atmosphere, it would be great!), but the events that follow it are very hard to believe. It’s very clear to me why The Pianist has received mostly positive responses (an untouchable premise and emotional blackmail can do a lot), but other than the fantastic performances, I don’t see anything I haven’t already seen elsewhere, and better…
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In The Pianist, it's evident that the film was directed by someone who personally experienced the horrors of war and the Holocaust. It's an exceptionally strong and authentic portrayal of the fate of Jews during World War II. Unlike Spielberg's acclaimed Schindler's List, it's not polished and calculated, which reflects in slightly lower ratings. Unlike Spielberg, Polanski opts for the form of an intimate drama of a single man, yet it's an exceptional, poignant, and brilliantly acted film. Overall impression: 100%.
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Weaker than peak Spielberg. More artistically routine, much less sophisticated visually, and more audience-friendly. Of course, it is colorful, meaning less art, but not that we should complain about it. The Pianist is an honest film full of emotions and heart-wrenching scenes, and the overall message of the project is equally impressive. But it certainly won't capture your heart as much as Schindler's List.
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If Roman Polanski hadn't indulged in almost autobiographical self-indulgence, this could have been a great film. But instead of focusing on the very strong story of the main character, the director inserted his own emotions and memories into his film, which don't have as much power, although there was a lot of potential. Adrien Brody scores in astronomical numbers, but even that is not enough this time.
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When I saw Thomas Kretschmann's name in the credits, I thought he would play some type of classic Nazi villain, but I was pleasantly surprised. Roman Polanski directed a film that doesn't stand out for its brutality - war was like that - but excels in capturing it incredibly rawly. During certain scenes, you really get an uncomfortable feeling, as you shiver from what people are capable of. And it doesn't matter if it was the Germans or someone else later. Adrien Brody delivered a great performance, while story-wise, it's a fairly classic tale from that period. Many similarly strong but even more brutal stories have been experienced.
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