Review of The Pianist (2002) by Brandon L — 12 Jun 2013

The Pianist is moving, real, unique, at times effectively emotionless and others startlingly emotional. Set in Poland, Brody gives a great performance as a Jewish pianist who has a job playing for the high society. When Nazi Germany begins their campaign against the Jewish community, his family begins to lose everything, starting with being forced to wear armbands to symbolize their Jewish faith, which of course is only the beginning in a long line of increasing atrocities to the Jewish community. During this portion, the film can be rather graphic as numerous beatings and killings take place that are hardly censored, both revolting and effective. He is constantly pushed by his family and others to use his ties with the more privileged in society to help the community, but in the end it simply saves him (and not his family) from being sent to a camp. What ensues is a heart-stopping and emotional sequence where Szpilman endures hardship and heartbreak in his quest to survive, all while yearning to be reunited with his passion; his music, and in a final scene it's that music that might mean the difference between life and death. It occasionally drags and some things are left to the audience to sort out when the movie doesn't seem to be intending to do so, but this is a great film, definitely a must-see that breaks the mold of typical holocaust films.

4 stars: Great.