Winner of the prestigious Golden Palm award at the 2002 Cannes film festival, The Pianist is the film that Roman Polanski was born to direct. A childhood survivor of Nazi-occupied Poland, Polanski was uniquely suited to tell the story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew and concert pianist (played by Adrien Brody) who witnessed the Nazi invasion of Warsaw, miraculously eluded the Nazi death camps, and survived throughout World War II by hiding among the ruins of the Warsaw ghetto. Unlike any previous dramatization of the Nazi holocaust, The Pianist steadfastly maintains its protagonist's singular point of view, allowing Polanski to create an intimate odyssey on an epic wartime scale, drawing a direct parallel between Szpilman's tenacious, primitive existence and the wholesale destruction of the city he refuses to abandon. Uncompromising in its physical and emotional authenticity, The Pianist strikes an ultimate note of hope and soulful purity. As with Schindler's List, it's one of the greatest films ever made about humanity's darkest chapter. --Jeff Shannon

I don't often watch contemporary films because I find most of them to reek of crummy Hollywood fluff -- this one is different, MUCH better! I'm stingy with awarding stars for films too but this one really deserves all the accolades that I can pile on.

It's simply the story of a European Jewish guy who just wants to be a pianist. He clearly has the playing skills of Chopin and he's totally focused upon his art until WW II intervenes... thus, the viewer can anticipate his forthcoming experience(s).

This film is a bit of a sleeper -- at least I've never heard folks talking about it much... certainly not to the level it deserves. It's really incredibly well-conceived, punctuated with terrific acting and brilliant cinematography. I was totally drawn in to this one. If you have a big-screen television, this will manifest an even greater bonus for you given the great film footage.

I was so impressed with this film and the score that I also bought the soundtrack: The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture

Highly recommended!

The Pianist is one of those movies which holds your attention every minute. I was nearly afraid to see what was to happen next all through the film ! I ordered an extra copy of the film to lend to my family and friends so that they could experience some of the horrors which had taken place when Hitler began his goal to take over the world.
A plus in the film was the excellent piano playing which for me was tear jerking. I don't suggest The Pianist for the younger folk without adult supervision, but for those who have heard anything about the events during the holocaust in Europe, this movie will help to realize just what occurred during during that period !!

I did have to return the HD/DVD for a different DVD, my mistake dont have HD. However, recieved a new DVD of the movie and of course it's a fabulous film, they should even show this movie in history classes.

Still havent gotten my refund yet, and its been about a month.

Polish filmaker Polanski shows the truth in his movie. Polanski was born and raised in Poland. He had a Catholic parent and a Jewish parent. He was saved and raised by Polish-Catholics. He, like Wladislaw were there and saw for themselves what it was REALLY like, and showed it as such. Hollywood and those that never suffered write and tell a complete opposite and untrue tale discounting Polish suffering and help to Jews. Trust someone who was there, and not sensationalised lies and hatred. Poland lost world war II; no one, no one suffered the horror and terror of the Pagan/Secular Germans and Stalin like Poland did - NO ONE!!! Get thos DVD and Book to every school and library... Please. Cheshch, Shalom & Dia Duit

I'm not sure if I've submitted a review on this film but here goes. After a series of disappointing films, director Roman Polanski came back with a vengeance with this personal tale of survival during the Holocaust. Winner of several Cesars and Oscars for Best Director & Best Actor (Adrian Brody), Polanski's dispassionate tone is just right for this film, never falling into sentimentality the way Spielberg did in "Schindler's List" (the only flaw in that Oscar winner) and Brody himself is consumatively excellent in the title role (he stated that he lost weight, his apartment & his girlfriend but kissed Halle Berry!!). I am planning on acquiring the HD DVD version of this superb film which also touches on the irony of war. The episode involving a Nazi officier (Thomas Kreutzman, who later reteam with Brody in "King Kong") befriending Spilzman is touching. Recommended for all lovers of great cinema!!