The Pianist

Rating: 8/10 (24 March 2008)

It was since the time the movie was released and won Oscar I wanted to see this movie. At last I got the time and occasion to see it.
The story is about a famous young Polist Jew pianist in Warsaw, Germany during World war II (1939-1944) Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody). The Jews  including his family and he are subjected to atrocities by German army and subjected to move from their palatial upper class living to smaller quarters, and the journey continues till they are boarded to a train leading to gas chamber. Wladyslaw manages to escape the train journey and finds refuge at different places in most trying circumstances. Many a times nearing occasions of death and being caught; Wladysalw survives the War in the end, when he is rescued by the invading Polish army.
Director Roman Polaski, who himself is a Polish Jew, had suffered and experienced similar circumstances during WW II. This is one of the most grandeur scale movie the Roman has directed till date. The set are magninomious, and the details of War and its impact on Warsaw city is depicted with utmost reality. The ghetto of Jew neighborhood with a segregating wall in between is chilling, so are numerous scenes when innocent Jews are shown being killed without any reason.
Though this is a movie of a pianist, its main theme is to show the world (one more time) the atrocities Jews faced in Germany during WWII. This time  the master is at work. It just happens that the protagonist is a pianist, it could have had been anyone. It does not matter  because the purpose seems evidently clear  to show how Jews suffered during WWII.
Adrien Brody does a great job in bringing a real character and his fears, desires to life. He lives the role in body and skin. He acting is a treat to watch.
The cinematography is superb. It is obvious the movie must be very well funded.
One question that intrigued me throughout the movie was  Why were Jews segregrated and killed by Germans? I tried to google it, and most of the blame goes to Hitler, who wanted to eliminate a few races. I also read that Jews are most arrogant, clever, intelligent and shrewd blood sucking money making machines, who are very mean in their business. I may need to read some what more on this before I can make my own conclusion.
There is nothing new or great about the theme, but a good movie by a master Roman Polaski. It surely had to won accolades in US, as Jews rule the business world  especially Hollywood.
(Stars 7.5 out of 10)