World War 2 films are often hit and miss. Some are amazing and quickly find themselves at the top of the ‘to watch’ list, while others leave a lot to be desired. But there is one powerful film, based on a true story, that has been called a masterpiece and still ranks among the best more than two decades after it was made.
That would be The Pianist, which tells the true story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who tries to survive the Holocaust. It was directed by Roman Polanski and stars Adrien Brody in the lead role. The film shows Szpilman’s fight to survive as the Nazis occupy Warsaw. He loses his family, hides in bombed-out buildings, and lives on the brink of death, all while holding onto his love of music.
The movie has a 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% audience rating from more than 260,000 viewers.
One review called it a “masterpiece of cinematic storytelling” and said it was “a haunting and powerful biographical drama”.
Another said: “OMG, The Pianist is a must-watch. This movie is like a rollercoaster of emotions.
“Adrien Brody gives a mind-blowing performance. He makes you feel every ounce of struggle and hope.”
American film critic Roger Ebert added that Polanski was showing what survival really looked like – not heroic, but painful and full of luck.
As one viewer put it: “The film does not say much most of the time but has the most perfect amount of silence it needs. It flows so elegantly and smoothly yet gives such a great impact.”
Another wrote: “It is a beautiful movie ironically. I felt this movie straight in my heart.”
Richard Schickel from Time magazine called it a “raw, unblinkable film” and praised it for not forcing emotion.
Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle said the film shows “a world of colour bombed into black-and-white devastation”.
Michael Wilmington from the Chicago Tribune called it “the best dramatic feature I’ve seen on the Holocaust experience”.
The film won three Oscars – Best Actor, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay – and took home the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
It also won seven César Awards in France and the BAFTA for Best Film.
Filming took place in Germany and Poland, using real locations and old army buildings to recreate the ruins of Warsaw.
The story was deeply personal to Polanski, who escaped from the Kraków Ghetto as a child and survived the war.