The Pianist (2002)

The Pianist (2002)

Director: Roman Polanski

Plot Synopsis

A Polish Jewish musician (Adrien Brody) struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.

Male Deaths

• Adrien Brody [Władysław Szpilman]
• Frank Finlay [Father]
• Ed Stoppard [Henryk]
• Thomas Kretschmann [Captain Wilm Hosenfeld

Female Deaths

• Joanna Brodzik [Woman Shot in the Head]
• Julia Rayner [Regina]
• Maureen Lipman [Mother]
• Jessica Kate Meyer [Halina]

Gallery

Joanna Brodzik

Julia Rayner before her offscreen death

Jessica Kate Meyer before her offscreen death

Trivia

1. Notice how director of photography Pawel Edelman slowly drains the color out of all the scenes as the film progresses to signify the deterioration of the city and of Szpilman himself.
2. During the shooting of the movie, while scouting locations in Krakow, Roman Polanski met a man who had helped Polanski's family survive the war.
3. Adrien Brody learned how to play the piano for his role.
4. Adrien Brody became the youngest person to date to win an Academy Award for Best Actor when he won for this film at the age of 29.
5. The film was in pre-production when the real Szpilman died.