The Pianist

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The Pianist

R

2002

2h 28m

History

Drama

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

186 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw.

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and dramatically moving, The Pianist is Polanski's best work in years.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

08/29/2022

Starved to skin and bone, Adrien Brody gives a mesmerising performance as Wladyslaw Szpilman...

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

5/5

True story of a Jewish pianist; OK for older kids.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

02/09/2006

Old-fashioned in both visual and narrative style and in its overall restraint, the film clearly benefits from the director's first-hand knowledge of the territory.

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Sloan Freer

Radio Times

Nov 11

4/5

By avoiding the simplistic and manipulative clichés of good and evil usually found in Holocaust films, Polanski has added a new layer of understanding to the cinematic depictions of the period.

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Adrían Massanet

Espinof

02/27/2024

5/5

Polanski embeds here and there, memories of his childhood and horrifying details that feel accurate and authentic, and which provide a moving and extremely raw dimension to a film whose darkness is unforgettable. [Full review in Spanish]

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

05/06/2023

This is not a portrait of war heroism (though he never does anyone ill by accident or by design) but of primal survival instincts and Brody sheds all of his actor’s instincts to show Szpilman slowly slide into animalistic self-preservation.

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Sara W

@saraa_77 Dec 26

it was good but it would be better in polish, with polish actors, since its in goddamn poland. good acting. i didnt cry, though it was emotional

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Maria M

Oct 1

The movie was really sad and it perfectly presented the brutality of war. The actors were excellent, and I think Adrien Brody played Szpilman (the main character) really well. At times, the movie can be quite frightening, so if you are faint of heart, it might not be for you. Still, I highly recommend it. It shows the pain of the people who had lived, and those who had died, during those times.

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Daniel P

Aug 27

Just a masterpiece. This movie hits hard and stays with you for years.

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Vixo S

Jul 15

Shocking and masterful. The Pianist left me completely in shock. I had heard about it before, but I never thought it would be this good. It’s a raw, moving, and profoundly human film that portrays the horrors of war without resorting to sensationalism. Adrien Brody’s performance is flawless, conveying his character’s suffering, loneliness, and fragile hope with both subtlety and strength. Roman Polanski’s direction is masterful, paying attention to every detail to make the story feel as real as it is devastating. This is one of those films you don’t just watch, but truly feel, and it stays with you long after it ends.

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Alec B

Jun 29

Szpilman's experience of the War and the Holocaust is simultaneously intimate and at a distance. He experiences violent antisemitism first hand and loses his entire family but also witnesses key historical events (the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the Warsaw Uprising, and the Destruction of Warsaw) from upstairs windows in secret rooms without participating in them. Polanski infusing this true story with elements of his own life is key to the movie's emotional core.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 7

2 hours and 28 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Violence and Brief Strong Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cast and crew are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Synopsis

In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Robert Benmussa, Roman Polanski, Alain Sarde
Screenwriter: Wladyslaw Szpilman, Ronald Harwood
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R (Violence|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 27, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.8K
Runtime: 2h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround

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