The Pianist

Name: The Pianist
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Released: December 27, 2002
Duration: 150 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Adrien Brody, Frank Finlay

2002

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 490 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 490 Ratings

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The Pianist

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: December 27, 2002 | TV-MA

Starring: Adrien Brody, Frank Finlay

Summary: Wladyslaw Szpilman, a brilliant Polish pianist, a Jew, escapes deportation. Forced to live in the heart of the Warsaw ghetto, he shares the suffering, the humiliation and the struggles. He manages to escape and hides in the ruins of the capital. A German officer comes to his aid and helps him to survive. (Focus Features)

Director: Roman Polanski

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, War

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 150 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Desson Thomson

Polanski, himself a survivor of Nazi-occupied Poland, has created a near-masterpiece. Read full review

100

Michael Wilmington

A great movie on a powerful, essential subject -- the Holocaust years in Poland -- directed with such artistry and skill that, as we watch, the barriers of the screen seem to melt away. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The results are masterful, admirably unsentimental, and never boring, if also a little stodgy. Read full review

Peter Travers

Nothing can detract from the film as a portrait of hell so shattering it's impossible to shake. Read full review

Mike Clark

With this 2002 Cannes Film Festival best-picture winner, Polanski skips the quirky flourishes and simply brings history to life. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Polanski, wisely, doesn't interpret or explain. He seems to have decided that in the face of such meticulously planned horror, the best one can do is get the details right. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Surprisingly lacks a feeling of personal urgency and insight that would have made it a distinctive, even unique contribution to the considerable number of films that deal with the war in general and Holocaust in particular. Read full review

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User Reviews

MustisTheCat

Aug 2, 2011

I especially appreciate this movie for portraying people as real as it gets. There are no only good or bad sides here. It shows us that the war never really changed poeple to mindless warmongering zombies. There were bad and good people everywhere. The story of a young Jewish radio pianistI especially appreciate this movie for portraying people as real as it gets. There are no only good or bad sides here. It shows us that the war never really changed poeple to mindless warmongering zombies. There were bad and good people everywhere. The story of a young Jewish radio pianist is interesting as the perspective is shown from his secret flat provided by the Polish. Everything he experienced most of the time was viewing from his apartment`s window. The apocalyptic reality of ghettos also have some time in this movie so we can see how he Germans treated their slaves. The character played by Adrien Brody is likeable and interesting to the point we want to stick with the story. And in this movie we see another page of history which is Germans destroying Warsaw. In the end I felt sorry for Wilm Hosenfeld and I reflected upon how unjust and random war is.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Justin35

Jul 23, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sublime, conmovedora hasta el extremo, exquisita, una total obra de arte en cada escena sentí el dolor, la angustia y la si sobra sencillamente magnífico… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ColombiaGames

Jan 20, 2013

This movie tells a story that we cannot forget , it is very shocking how the human being tries to live also known as survival escaping from the nazis. Everyone should se this movie because it has a great and amazing story to tell.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

HuiW.

Apr 21, 2007

The Pianist, a movie depicting the holocaust of Nazi like Schindler's List, arouse me a question that is why the western people could not pay more attention to Nanjiang Massacre. Even some of them never heard the history. Only during WW II from Dec.,1938 to Jun.,1939, more than 300,000 The Pianist, a movie depicting the holocaust of Nazi like Schindler's List, arouse me a question that is why the western people could not pay more attention to Nanjiang Massacre. Even some of them never heard the history. Only during WW II from Dec.,1938 to Jun.,1939, more than 300,000 people was killed by Japanese army in their own country. I suppose maybe this history can be good materials for a historic movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Alsethe2nd

May 28, 2019

As a pianist and a person with a love for history this movie really brought a deep insight onto the world of a Polish Jew in WW2. This film is set in Poland during the second World War when Jews were being persecuted in the Holocaust, although many know of its horrors this movie reallyAs a pianist and a person with a love for history this movie really brought a deep insight onto the world of a Polish Jew in WW2. This film is set in Poland during the second World War when Jews were being persecuted in the Holocaust, although many know of its horrors this movie really displays to what extent the Jews would be targeted and tortured and highlights how the suffering was universal, instead of selected the Jews who had done something wrong they are all bunched together and treated as less than human, The Pianist really does well to display this through the mood of the areas in which the movie takes place and through character development shows the corruption of the body both physically and mentally, lacking in trust and doing all it takes to survive. Despite its name, The Pianist has very little piano scores throughout the whole film played by the protagonist which makes the ones he does play even more impactful and beautiful, a man stripped of what he treasures, finally gets to enjoy it again. This movie is a real tear-jerker especially as it's based on a true story if you are interested in war this movie will shine a true and honest light on it and if you enjoy classical music in anyway this movie is definitely for you, it will bring an new and powerful connection between you and your music.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Nov 22, 2013

Beautiful, engrossing, and tragic, this film is all of those and more. Beautifully directed by Roman Polanski and Adrien Brody excells in the lead role. Absolutely brilliant film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DaveC.

Sep 24, 2005

Can't go wrong with Adrien Brody, whose performance is, at once, intense and sympathetic, yet the character he is playing is little more than a void in the film, where we should in fact be thinking of him as the protagonist. Many sections of the film are risible where the ought to be Can't go wrong with Adrien Brody, whose performance is, at once, intense and sympathetic, yet the character he is playing is little more than a void in the film, where we should in fact be thinking of him as the protagonist. Many sections of the film are risible where the ought to be taken seriously and at other times, I wasn't even convinced. The piano playing sequences are pretentious and obvious and the rest of the film feels like a missed opportunity. Why doesn't it tackle issues like the prejudices of slavic poles towards the jews. I never got the sense of what it might have felt like to be jew. Polanski has evidently been more pre-occupied with making a crowd-pleasing thrill ride. What a waste.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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10	#10 Best Movie of 2002
16	#16 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
15	#15 Most Shared Movie of 2002