Play It Again, Sam.

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2015)

The Pianist (2002): Dir: Roman Polanski / Cast: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finley, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox: Very powerful and emotionally driven film about the dreaded affects of Warsaw. In symbolic terms it regards our condition under huge duress as when Adrien Brody moves his fingers through the air and the audiences hears the beautiful sounds of the piano that are only evident in his tarnished mind. His family was separated from him and we can sense his loneliness as he walks a street littered with bodies and fallen structures. He is forced to help rebuild a separation wall as well as endure brutal treatment from the Nazis. Directed by Roman Polanski who himself is a survivor of such conditions, and his passion for the material is evident. His previous films contain such classics as Chinatown and Repulsion. He creates the nightmarish atmosphere of the period and succeeds with great results. Flawless acting by Brody whose grief is only subsided by the sounds of piano. Strong supporting work by Thomas Kretschmann as a German soldier who happens upon him and the interesting situation that transpires as a result. Frank Finley, Maureen Lipman as his parents are more or less obvious in terms of their fate. We can feel the anguish and his sense of longing as the cherished strokes of the piano keys reflect his memory. Score: 9 / 10