The Pianist

The Pianist

Today, I would like to talk about one of the most effective, touching drama which won three oscars and should have won the best picture prize as well, directed by one of the most inspiring director, Roman Polanski. In fact, Roman Polanski couldn't attend the oscar night because he had been banned on entering the USA. He won the best director prize. The other oscars were goes to Ronald Harwood as the best writing, adapted screenplay and of course to Adrien Brody as the best actor for a leading role. Everybody was suprised for Adrien Brody because of his first oscar nominee. However, if we analyze his life before and during the filming, it is totally understandable why he won this prize that he gave up from his floor, car and continued his life as a self-conscious personality. He gave 13 weight, learned how to play Chopin in piano and results of these stresses he broke up from his long-term girlfriend.

Long time ago, Steven Spielberg had made an offer to Polanski for Shindler's List however, Mr. Polanski refused his offer. Mr.Polanski is a person who suffered from the war that he wanted to shot his own 'Invasion of Poland, 1939 Movie'. I think, The Pianist is a kind of perfect Polish combination of Chopin (my favorite musician), Roman Polanski (my favorite director) and Warsaw.

When German Armies begin to occupy Warsaw, Roman Polanski was 6 years old. After years, on an interview, he says that ' It was a big mistake of course they will return to Poland just before the war...Everbody was thinking that Krakow is the first place to where the German soldiers will invade. However German soldiers invaded to Warsaw...We were going to shelters sometimes at night.. I was six.. I remember very well. I wasn't frightened, just I didnt know what was to come. What ı was missing the most was my father. We didnt know where it was. What was happening. First time we started to starving...' 

The movie begins with the Chopin's C Minor Nocturne which is the movie's soundtrack as well, is playing by the main character Wladyslaw Szpilman. This character is based on a true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, acclaimed polish pianist. In 1st September 1939, the radio station, located in Luftwaffe starts to be bombed while Wladyslaw is playing the piano. All Polish Jewishes are dragged to Warsaw ghettos, including Wladyslaw and his family. One of the collaborator rescues Wladyslaw and seperates him from his family while they are in prison camp trains to be death. This movie shows how Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive by finding places to hide, looking for foods, escaping from death. He manages to survive with the help of insurgents and a German officer called Captain Wilm Hosenfeld.
During this tragic movie, we are dealing with the bitter side of life. We see lots of tears of people who are suffering from occupation. Jewish Polishes are being killed randomly. There is a depressing scene that the old man in wheelchair is thrown away from balcony by German officials.

The reality of starvation about which lots of people have no idea is shown with a touchful scenes.There is a scene that one old man argues with a woman and tries to capture her food which poores to ground, later. This man eats the food from the ground. In another scene, Wladyslaw and his family share a small butterscotch, was bought by 20 zealots. Roman Polanski lived the war's reality. He reflects his difficulties which were faced with, to 'Pianist'. While Wladyslaw is escaping, he finds a tin, including pickle. Tin is fallen to the ground and liquid oozes out. This touchful scene, accompanies by Beethoven's moonlight sonata, is taken by Roman Polanski's life. Even I didnt know this while ı was watching this scene, I found this scene as a one of the best ones in movie. So, ı guess reality shows its perfection. Captain Wilm Hosenfeld finds out him and asks Wladyslaw's job. After Wladyslaw answers it, Captain Wilm wants from Pianist to play piano. We listen Ballade in G Minor from the Pianist. Here comes a touchful scene again. We begin to see how Captain Wilm's face changes and turns to an upset and toughful expression. Maybe, one of the upcoming greatest Pianist is playing, now. 

At the end of the movie we listen Chopin's C Minor Nocturne, again while Wladyslaw plays on piano for radio. This scene is the most emotional scene that I see and shows the pianist's intensity of emotion. Especially after he saw his friend who is still alive, he first shows bitter smile than starts to cry by trying to prevent himself. Many things happened and few people continues to survive.

Reference: Roman Polanski: A Film Memory (2011)