Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!

The Pianist

2002

Directed by Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski’s 2002 film The Pianist is a harrowing drama based on the true story of Polish-Jewish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman and his struggle to survive the Holocaust. Starring Adrien Brody in an Oscar-winning performance, the film provides an unflinching look at the Warsaw ghetto and Szpilman’s experiences hiding from the Nazis.

The plot follows Szpilman, a talented pianist, living a comfortable life in Warsaw until the Nazi invasion upends everything. As conditions for Jews rapidly deteriorate, Szpilman and his family face increased oppression and cruelty before ultimately being forced into the overcrowded Warsaw ghetto. The scenes of the ghetto are chilling, with dead bodies lining the streets. Later, when Szpilman is separated from his family during deportation to the death camps, the film takes on an even more desperate tone.

Alone and in hiding, struggling to find food and shelter, Szpilman’s will to live is tested again and again. At times the film is difficult to watch, as we witness him starving, sick, and enduring the utter devastation of Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising. Brody is fantastic, portraying the range of emotions from deep despair to flickers of hope expertly.

The simplest pleasures, like a can of pickles or finding a piano to play, take on profound meaning. Even music becomes a metaphor in the film – representing humanity and elevating the soul for both Szpilman and the German officer who ultimately chooses to help him.

Polanski, himself a Holocaust survivor, imbues the film with painful authenticity. The use of muted colors, the bombed-out ruins of the city, and spare dialogue create a bleak and oppressive atmosphere. It’s a stark portrayal of one man’s unbelievable persistence in the face of true evil.

At nearly 3 hours long, The Pianist requires emotional investment from viewers. But the length allows us to truly understand Szpilman’s agonizing trials. Brody’s stellar performance coupled with Polanski’s direction make this difficult subject matter into an unforgettable film that sticks with you long after it ends.

What did you think of The Pianist? Share your thoughts below!