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Reviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
THE PIANIST
DVD Features: Short Film: "The Story of Survival". Bios. Production Notes. Scene Selection. Trailer.
Polanski returns to form with this harrowing story of a Polish Jew on
the run from the Nazis, based on the autobiography of Wladyslaw
Szpilman, a celebrated pianist who performed the last concert on Polish
radio as the Germans attacked Warsaw. The increasing brutality of the
Nazi regime is briskly depicted as Szpilman first loses his job, is
forced to wear the yellow star, and then is relocated with his family to
the Warsaw Ghetto. As soon as his father reassures the family that “at
least we’re still together,” there is an ominous knock on the door and
an announcement that they will soon be transported to a labor camp.
Through sheer luck, Szpilman is pulled from the line at the train
station by a friend, a Jewish cop, and given the chance to escape.
Enduring hard labor, isolation, and starvation during a six-year
struggle for survival, he plays an imaginary piano to practice the
German Bach and Beethoven--an ironic symbol of human perseverance.
This dramatic and action-packed film is beautifully enhanced by Brody’s
understated performance as an Everyman witnessing horrific events. With
a smorgasbord of accents, this large international cast is well cast,
even if many of the supporting characters are thinly written. Perhaps
not as powerful or as provocative as Schindler’s List or
Europa, Europa, Szpilman’s terrifying odyssey is compellingly
told in this solid production.
DVD Extras: The 45-minute film, “The Story of Survival”, is less about Szpilman than the
making of the film. Included in this promo piece are interesting sound
bites from Brody regarding the lengths he underwent to understand
Szpilman’s experience and footage of the energetic Polanski directing.
Kent Turner
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