Of the Pianist
The Pianist opens in 1939 Warsaw,shortly after Poland's defeat to the German army.Jewish pianist player Wladyslaw Szpilman played by Adrien Brody,along with his family were forced to watch as the restrictions against the Jews became more and more odius by day.At first,minor but unfair rules were set against the Jews.For example,Jews were not allowed to eat in certain areas,Jews were not allowed to walk in parks,Jews were not allowed to sit on public benches,so on and so forth.Then the rules became harsher and more unfair.They were forced to label themselves with Jewish armbands,and to bow to Nazis when they walk pass them.They were forced to walk on the gutters instead of the pavements,and 500 000 Jews were forced to move into a ghetto.Then the Nazis began to implement their "Final Solution",weremost of the Jews in Warsaw are shipped into concentration camps to be exterminated.Those who are capable of work and labour were spared,and forced to work under harsh conditions.Wladyslaw was separated from his family at this point.He was forced to work at a construction site while his family was sent to a concentration camp.With the help of his friends,he managed to escape from the ghetto.Throughout the war period,he moved from places to places with the help of many other fellow Polish.Until one day when the city he lived he was raided,and he was forced to once again,run away from his hiding place.He spent most of the time in ruins,and in hunger.His life became a constant search for food,and a cat and mouse game between himself and the German soldiers.This film was powerful in every aspect.Instead of concentrating on the brutal acts of the German,or scenes from a concentration camp like other holocaust films like,"Schindler's List",this movie focuses on the human struggle.The fight with hunger and of survival.The individual will to survive in a war torn country,with a twist of music to the story.There are a couple of very powerful scenes as well.Wladyslaw stayed in an abandoned hospital opposite his residence for a period of time,surviving on rotten food and water.Until one day when the Germans began to search every buildng on the street when he decided to escape from that place,over the wall and back into the ghetto.He hurt his leg as he jumped down the wall,and the next shot was him limping through the ruins of Warsaw.The streets were demolished.Buildings hung from their foundations and walls crumbled.Holes and debris,bodies and blood.You see Wladyslaw limping through the piles of mess,and he looks around for any sign of life.But no.Another scene was before he and his family was separated.While Wladyslaw and his family had dinner,the German soldiers raided the building opposite theirs.Some of them were ordered to gather on the streets as they searched from floor to floor.There was this particular family,when the German soldiers got in,they were ordered to stand up at their dining table.They did.However,the old man of the family couldnt stand because he was handicapped.He was sitting on a wheelchair and was unable to move.Guess what.The German general ordered the soldiers to pick him up,pushed the wheelchair to the balcony and threw him over the ledge.You actually see the man falling down the building and crushing his skull.Wow.The rest of the people who lined themselves up on the streets,were asked to run down the street.The Germans took out their revolver and shot them one by one.The ones who lived,were ran over by trucks,alive.Wow.Roman Polanski,what a bloody genius.I actually got teary eyes while watching how Wladyslaw searched for food in the rubble.From a intellectual and smart gentleman at the beginning of the film,we see Wladyslaw disintegrate from that to a caveman.His dialogue reduces from words to grunts.Very very good show.Music was cool too.One of the best war movies ever.A must see.

Quotes of the Day:
Wladyslaw Szpilman,'It's an official decree, no Jews allowed in the parks.'
Dorota,'What, are you joking?'
Wladyslaw Szpilman,'No, I'm not. I would suggest we sit down on a bench, but that's also an official decree, no Jews allowed on benches.'
Dorota,'This is absurd.'
Wladyslaw Szpilman,'So, we should just stand here and talk, I don't think we're not allowed to do that.'

Wladyslaw Szpilman,'I know this is an awkward time to say this, but I wish I knew you better.'

Wladyslaw Szpilman,'I don't know how to thank you.'
Captain Wilm Hosenfeld,'Thank God, not me. He wants us to survive. Well, that's what we have to believe.'

Wladyslaw Szpilman,'[taking off his watch] Here, sell this. Food is more important than time.'

Wladyslaw Szpilman,'Its too small. There's 400,000 of us in Warsaw.'
Henryk Szpilman,'No, there's 360,000. So it will be easy.'
---'The Pianist'(2002)

Song of the moment---Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor by Chopin