Review of The Pianist (2002) by Morten N — 13 Dec 2011

A beautiful, harrowing portrait of the Holocaust. It's a cinematic triumph that is extraordinary!

Based on actual events, Wladlsyslaw Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist, was living in Warsaw with his family. But the Gestapo exile his family to the ghetto. When he escapes, though, he undertakes a great journey of survival.

Adrien Brody's performance is fantastic, displaying the human condition and spirit very well here. Roman Polanski's astute direction and the faithful script bring the Holocaust to life with authenticity, no Hollywood shenanigans pulled. While "Devil's Arithmetic" gave me a glimpse of this and "Schindler's List" a look, "The Pianist" offers a vision from beginning to end. It's in no way the true representative of the Holocaust, but it is the most detailed, rich, and sympathetic of them all. What it lacks in documentation, it more than makes up for in visceral impact. And did I mention the music is amazing! It has more meaning than what one would expect... just like in real life! Some intense scenes abound, but easier for the more delicate to handle than in "Schindler's List".

However, the film drags in a few parts. I almost lost a little interest during the more quiet parts, even though they're meant to be relief. Also, I didn't seem to feel the hope meant to be elicited throughout. Don't get me wrong, it's great that he actually survived and all, but the ending felt too easily achieved. Not to mention, the costar was given too short of a role.

Lyrical, haunting, and soft-spoken, this movie is in turn brutally effective as both a genre film and a flashback to Polanski's own childhood. This and "Schindler's List" make a great double feature, if you don't mind the oppression and depression.