Roman Polanski was a Holocaust survivor. In 1993, he turned down the opportunity to direct
Schindler's List, because at the time he felt he was not ready to confront that subject. In 2002, however, Polanski decided to film his Holocaust themed movie, one called
The Pianist, which was based on an incredible true story of survival amongst all of that horror. While this film is completely taken from the autobiography that Wladyslaw Szpilman wrote about his experiences, you can also see that there might be parallels between that story and Polanski's own. Szpilman no doubt survived thanks to the goodwill of non-Jews and just a little bit of luck, and without that, Polanski wouldn't be around blessing us all with his amazing gift of film-making. The fact that this was made by someone who had been
there and had witnessed all of that going on made this film the harrowing, realistic experience it was. It's impossible not to admire Polanski's strength here...while we never visit a concentration camp, we see Jews doing anything they can to avoid their inevitable death. This film is all about Jews, not the evil bastards who discriminated against them.
There's no real 'plot' in this movie, so to speak. It is mainly just about a Jewish pianist, Wladysaw Szpilman (played by Adrien Brody) who was a part of a particularly well-off family. Of course, come the war, the family were sent first to the Warsaw Ghetto, and then off to the concentration camps. Wladysaw, however, was pushed out of the line by a family acquaintance, and instead of going to a concentration camp, he depended on a few non-Jews to help him along. From then on, it's just the story of his survival, which makes for a truly remarkable and interesting two and a half hours.
Through these two and half hours, you see a lot of horror. You see Jews being shot willy-nilly: whether it be for 'target practice' or just because they're running down the street like they were told to do. You see Jews being burned. You see - one of the moments when I completely lost it with this movie - a man in a wheelchair being thrown off a balcony. All of these things were treated as observations by Polanski, instead of being given what I like to call a 'glossy touch'. This is the kind of thing that can be found in many Hollywood depictions of the War/Holocaust, where the deaths of Jews always feel glorified and quite staged, at some points, mainly because they are trying so hard to make the audience feel like crap. Polanski, however, doesn't have to try. He knows what he saw all those years ago, and doesn't feel the need to glorify it in any way. His efforts are as realistic as hell, which is why he deserved the Best Director Oscar so much.
Another component in this movie which seems completely realistic is the jaw-dropping performance from Adrien Brody. For most of the film, he has to carry the film himself as he doesn't interact with anyone for large patches of it. It is rare for an actor to ever succeed in having the films best interests set squarely on their shoulders, but Brody does amazingly in his role. What is even more amazing, though, is the way he transforms with his character. At the start we are introduced to this charming man, who, without the war, would have gone on to be a successful and wealthy musician. Then we see a man who is not living in the best of conditions in a labour camp, but is personally helping to smuggle in weapons for a Jewish uprising. The worst of it, and the best display of Brody's commitment and talent is when he fades away to almost nothing. He is barely anything but a skeleton with an overgrown beard...and yet, even when his spirit should be broken, he just keeps on going. Brody, who I imagine hadn't been in such a weakened state in his life before, is just so goddamn believable it hurts to watch him. And trust me, I felt his performance in my
bones. I don't think a performance has ever had that effect on me before.
The Pianist is a film which can easily involve the viewer. Instead of watching on while a helpless Jew just tries to survive, I felt like I was a helpless Jew trying to survive. This is told mostly from a Jew's perspective, and the fact that it only focuses on one Jew, it's a lot easier to believe in the tale of survival. While it may not have a plot, or narrative structure, it serves as a testimony to all of us that our lives, no matter how hard they seem, do not suck. That good luck and good people do exist out there. People may leave you, but there's always a way through. And, the main one is that help can come from the person you least expect it to come from. There's sheer inspiration in
The Pianist which I do not think can be rivaled by anything else I've seen. Never before has a movie taken me in so much and feel everything it has to offer. So what I have to say is, thank you, Mr. Polanski, for making such a masterpiece of a film.
THE VERDICT: One of the best Holocaust themed films, which never fails to involve the viewer and has an absolutely amazing performance from Adrien Brody.
What I hoped for:
What I got:
