Stunning and deeply moving film about war, atrocities, hope, and survival.

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2003)

The piano performances in this film were VERY memorable. There was a fine level of detail - such as a flawless performance of Chopin's Ballade in Gm using a purposefully out-of-tune piano that was fitting for the scene of a burned out section of the city.
The stark reality of the war and the Holocaust was presented with no reservation - as one person mentioned above, just as if it were simply being reported by the author. And because of some of the more horrific moments - even as beautifully as this film was shot, I might find it difficult to watch ever again. Very powerful.
Besides the beautiful score, I felt the cast, cinematography and directing were superb - best I've seen from just about any film in a few years. The story is real, the characters are genuine.