...will linger on as a masterpiece for years to come.
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Winner of three Academy Awards isn't too bad for a film that probably deserved much more. There are so many films in a year's time, and it's always difficult to find those few that truly connect with the soul.
Roman Polanski's release of "The Pianist" for Universal is one of those films. In my honest opinion, it's one of those unforgettable pictures that will linger on as a masterpiece for years to come. I know I'll probably start a riot over this, but I was captivated by it even more so then "Schindlers List." "The Pianist" possibly holds a deep connection with me because I've been a musician since I was a child. For others, I believe it is a film that will connect on various levels that pursue the constant struggles and tragedies that life holds for all of us. There are only a handful of films in a decade that I would rave about, and as far as the new millennium goes, this is one of them. In America we complain about our wages, our jobs, or about how the other guy has it better than we do. After seeing the struggles Jews had to contend with during World War II, you realize just how spoiled many of us are.
Now don't let me give you the impression the film is totally depressing with all its war horror, yet it is to a large degree depressing because it is a war piece. However, "The Pianist" triumphantly manages to be a redeeming film as well. You may even find yourself, at times, rooting for the battered hero like a Scottish soccer fan.
"The Pianist" starts off on a journey that begins during the German invasion on Poland in 1939. As the film begins we are introduced to our main character, Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody, Academy Award winner for best actor), a young, professional pianist in the Polish city of Warsaw. The film abruptly starts with the bombing of the city, shortly followed by the German military invasion. We are soon introduced to Szpilman's family and other acquaintances as well. Even with all the horrors of war slowly beginning, life in Poland appears vibrant and full of color and beauty. As the story progresses, that vibrant, colorful life is painted into the dark earth-and-gray tones that set the stage for most of the rest of the film. Wladyslaw and his family seem to be totally oblivious to what's happening, as if the Germans will soon forget about Poland and leave. It's sad to say, but the Germans would be there to inflict their selfish, inexcusable, terrifying wrath for several years. On a personal note, I found myself so angry that I vowed never to buy German products again! In fact, their inhumane behavior towards Jews made me throw my German-made Braun razor in the trash. Let me tell you, folks, when a film affects you that way, it's a great movie.
Soon, during the second act, Wladyslaw is separated from his family, which he would never see again. It was the Holocaust, so it doesn't take much imagination to figure out what happened to them. Later, Wladyslaw finds refuge with some fellow Poles who manage to hide him in various places in Warsaw, temporarily free of German interest. Of course, this doesn't last due to various circumstances that one can only expect from trying to hide in the lion's den. By now our hero is starved, gets a bad case of jaundice, and manages to escape many instances of close death. Not to mention that in his entire journey through the perils of the German invasion he was never able to play the piano. I know I would go out of my mind if I couldn't play my guitar for five years, so I found myself more than compelled as to what must have been going through Szpilman's mind. The film does manage to redeem the Germans by giving us a German officer, Captain Wilm Hosenfeld (Thomas Kretschmann), who manages secretly to help Wladyslaw survive the remainder of his journey. The terror wouldn't end until 1945 when the Russians finally liberated Poland from its German tyrants. Even so, the Russians would manage to inflict Communism on the Polish people into the mid 80's, so one might say that Poland truly was not liberated until then.
At first I was curious why Adrien Brody won best actor for this film. His character seemed so calm and subdued that you would wonder when the guy was going to break into some powerful dialogue that would prove why he won the award. Needless to say, the quiet, soft-spoken, battered character he portrays is exactly what gave him the winning ticket. Even his saying not much at all was more powerful than any words could do justice to. Also, Brody went through extensive piano training and lost a good thirty pounds to give more reality and depth to the character. He even admits to giving up his personal possessions and valuable assets, essentially closing himself off from the outside world. I've heard of actors doing many things to get into a part, but this is way above and beyond anything I've ever heard of. For all that, I think he deserved two Academy Awards just for good measure.
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