Movie Review

      

Known for its amazing music, The Pianist (2002) is a movie about the survival of a young man against all odds. Based on the autobiographical book written by Wladyslaw Szpilman, it deals with the sensitive issue of the oppressive measures adopted by Adolf Hitler to wash away the Jews from the face of the earth. Although, there isn’t direct reference to Hitler in the entire movie, somewhere in the back of our minds, he is present throughout. With various scenes ranging from extreme violence to very emotional ones, the movie is a story of a person’s fight to survive.

The movie opens with Szpilman (Adrien Brody) playing a melodious tune on the Polish Radio; ironically followed by a sudden sound of explosion. This first explosion is soon followed by another louder one and the entire atmosphere turns from one of soothing music to that of disturbing bombings and cries. The element of music plays a very important role and continues to do so during the entire course of the movie. The character of Szpilman is explored in the first scene itself as he calmly responds to a fan, Dorota (Emilia Fox) amongst all the bombings and people running.

The direction of the movie is amazing, owing to the fact that the director is none other than Roman Polanski. The Polish director was a Jew born in the WARSAW region and provides us with a bleak, acidic humour added with ruthless cynicism. Szpilman is one man, not representing the large number of Jews that were executed and murdered but the smaller group of Jews that came out alive; although after suffering extreme violence and seeing their own families die in front of them.

This brings us to one of the most important aspects of the protagonist who is shown as a passive human that refrains from indulging into anything that would threaten his life. His character is explored as a human trying to save himself and not as a Jew fighting against the Nazi government. Although one might think this act as selfish, there’s nothing wrong in self-preservation.

The movie is all about Szpilman running away from the Nazis and ironically, ending up in front of one. But once again,it is his music that helps him survive. Thomas Kretschmann acting as Captain Wilm Hosenfeld helps Szpilman to survive by providing secrecy and food; two things he needed most then. It is interesting to note that when asked what he would do after “this” ended, he replied, “I’ll play piano on the Polish Radio” which is exactly what he did until he died.

The fingers of the pianist skilfully move in the air and play a beautiful music inside the head of Szpilman. The power of music on people is clearly shown in the movie and Szpilman is seen casting the magic of his music over his audience, whoever it may be. The movie ends portraying a free Poland where people listen to Szpilman in a huge concert. Sticking perfectly to its genres; drama, war and music - the Pianist is one of the most successful movies in the history of Jewish movies.