The Pianist is a testimony to the power of music, the will to live, and the courage to stand against evil," said the film's director Roman Polanski, who escaped the Cracow Ghetto at age 7.

THIS EDITION Volume 21, No. 1 January 30, 2003

Front Page

Polanski film hits a high note

The Pianist is a moving story, but a painful account of the horrors of the Holocaust

By Anna Urbanik
Staff Writer

The Pianist, the winner of the coveted Palme d’Or (Best Picture) award at the 2002 Cannes International Film Festival, is another movie representing the Holocaust. This latest motion picture by Polish director Roman Polanski captures a the true story of an extraordinary man and his survival in war torn Warsaw 1939-1945.

Wladyslaw Szpilman (played by Adrien Brody) was a young, celebrated composer and pianist when World War II broke out. As Jews, he and his family were evicted from their apartment, and 350,000 other Jews were placed in the Warsaw Ghetto, a restricted area of the city.

Szpilman faced the destroying power of the Holocaust with dignity and pride. He never gave up hope for freedom and better days to come, even after his entire family died in concentration camps. In 1942, he remained behind in Warsaw. A network of pre-war acquaintances and his strong will to live helped him survive the Nazi occupation. In January 1945, Warsaw was liberated, with only about 20 Jews left alive. Szpilman was one of them.

This is a remarkable film. Polanski does a tremendous job directing, drawing from his childhood memories. Brody’s performance will impress you with its authenticity and intensity. You won’t regret 148 minutes spent in the movie theater.

This extremely moving story filled with true emotions and painful images will stay on your mind for days. It’s not a movie for everyone, however. For me, as a Polish native, it was that much more difficult to watch; but for any human being it’ll be a very disturbing experience.

It is now showing exclusively at Dallas’ Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Lane and Central.