"Thank God, not me. He wants us to survive. Well, that's what we have to believe. "
February 3, 2014 Pan & Scan -- Film Reviews 0 comment jeremy.young
Adrien Brody’s portrayal of Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist is a lesson in grief. It isn’t belabored and saccharine the way some stories can be when the impossible seems to occur out of nowhere. Perhaps The Pianist is able to avoid such forced plot lines and emotions because it is built atop of an autobiography instead of a screenwriter’s fancy.
Every time a new obstacle comes Szpilman’s way he figures out another way to survive though often just barely. Each and every time the Nazi regime places another restriction on the Polish Jews Szpilman is determined to move forward as best he can. He repeatedly attempts to rise above the life he’s being forced into and even, at times, thrive until he has no other choice but to depart for a concentration camp.
The entire film is a difficult watch. Even though we’ve been availed of the horror stories of the Holocaust, Polanski’s direction brings it alive without apology. It is for this reason the film is ultimately a success. It doesn’t treat the audience as immature and doesn’t try to protect the viewer (although many would appreciate it if it did).
At 2 1/2 hours the film may require more than one sitting to see it to its completion, but with danger around each turn and no end to the cruelty the Nazis are willing to dispense, Brody takes the audience on a journey that explores the depth of the human spirit.
One of the lasting achievements of The Pianist is its ability to cause the audience to feel badly for Nazi Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, who earns our consideration when he assists Szpilman. Szpilman is found hiding in an attic waiting for the Russians to overrun the Germans malnourished and freezing. In one of the last scenes of The Pianist Captain Wilm Hosenfeld asks a freed Jewish Musician to tell Szpilman where he can be found as a plea for help. Though it comes to nothing, the audience is asked to consider whether or not he would deserve saving.
It is difficult to think that a person would find him or herself in the mood for such a film, but at a 3.5 it is still a must watch.
