Unexplained cruelty, a non-character and very many fascinating wooden cupboards.

Rating: 3/10 (13 April 2010)

What do you normally expect from a biographical movie about a musician during the World War II and the persecution of Jews? Probably a character who is either likable or non-stereotypical hence interesting, lots of good music, some historical hints for dummies and varied social background. Apparently "The Pianist" doesn't give you too much of any of these.
First of all, there is no plot strictly speaking, but a sequence of events in which the main character is involved. The war starts, people get killed, the uprisings break out, the Russians come, the war ends and all the time Szpilman is barely an observer, apart from the threat of being shot or sent to a death camp the history doesn't shape our "hero", nor does he change anything in it. He doesn't fight nor support the fighting civilians, he doesn't save anyone, he barely helps his fellows. His proceedings through the war times are likely to be less interesting than those of any randomly picked war survivor.
I cannot judge the real Szpilman and his life, but I could imagine him being less dull and passive than the character in the movie. Szpilman created by Brody doesn't seem to be a musical genius, but rather a self-centered average person. He is awkward and naive in a non-charming way. There is no depth to the character and he doesn't form any relationships with others apart from expecting help. With this help he moves from one apartment to another and stares blankly at the cupboards. I realize that food shortage was a big issue during the war, but how many cupboard examinations can you put in one movie?
It's not like I dislike cupboards. In fact I find the decorations and choice of items to be the strongest point of the movie, some very realistic and nicely designed reconstructions. Although interiors and costumes often look too clean and too smart, it is nevertheless a good job done.
The reconstruction of the society doesn't work that well. All the Poles plus one Nazi soldier are nice and helpful, all the Nazis plus one Polish neighbor are mean, Soviets are the victorious heroes who bring peace to Poles and Jews. It's a very simple division more typical of a movie from the '60s than a modern one. Besides, even though the main focus is on the Jews, the movie doesn't seem to have any really Jewish elements. Where is the Jewish religion and spirituality, Jewish music and Jewish wit? Of course living in a ghetto makes people lose heart but it doesn't mean there is no need for some characteristics to be shown in the movie.
There's absolutely nothing said about the reasons of the war actions. The war is like an unstoppable natural disaster from which you can only hide, but not an international conflict in which the orders come from and are executed by real people. The Nazis simply came to kill both Poles and Jews though the latter with more monstrous pleasure. The scenes are explicit, not suitable for children and sensitive adults. Death doesn't seem to have any meaning in this movie. If so, then without any disrespect to the real Szpilman, why would we want him in particular to survive, while so many others were starved to death, shot in the head or thrown out of a window?
I can only recommend this movie to people who cannot tell apart the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising from the Warsaw Uprising - there are dates on the screen to help you remember; and anyone who likes cupboards.
I don't recommend this movie to people who like action, multi-linear plot, well developed characters, dislike shallow good vs. evil division and showing more blood than necessary.