The Pianist

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The Pianist

R,

2002,

2h 28m,

History/

Drama/

War

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95%

186 Reviews

Tomatometer

96%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

186 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw.

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and dramatically moving, The Pianist is Polanski's best work in years.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Aug 29, 2022

Starved to skin and bone, Adrien Brody gives a mesmerising performance as Wladyslaw Szpilman...

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

5/5

True story of a Jewish pianist; OK for older kids.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Old-fashioned in both visual and narrative style and in its overall restraint, the film clearly benefits from the director's first-hand knowledge of the territory.

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Sloan Freer

Radio Times

Nov 11, 2025

4/5

By avoiding the simplistic and manipulative clichés of good and evil usually found in Holocaust films, Polanski has added a new layer of understanding to the cinematic depictions of the period.

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Adrían Massanet

Espinof

Feb 27, 2024

5/5

Polanski embeds here and there, memories of his childhood and horrifying details that feel accurate and authentic, and which provide a moving and extremely raw dimension to a film whose darkness is unforgettable. [Full review in Spanish]

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

May 6, 2023

This is not a portrait of war heroism (though he never does anyone ill by accident or by design) but of primal survival instincts and Brody sheds all of his actor’s instincts to show Szpilman slowly slide into animalistic self-preservation.

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Apr 6, 2019

fell in love w this movie, masterpiece

Rey L

Apr 4, 2019

Honestly, I can't decide what's more heartrending and devastating: the agonies of the Jews, or the fact that Brody is one of the most wasted talents ever! (9/10)

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Mar 10, 2019

Dramatic suspenseful and all true. Well acted and heartbreaking. One of the best movies on this period in history.

Abraham S

Feb 18, 2019

Dramatic acting, amazing piano pieces, and a heart-wrenching story line, Polanski does it again with The Pianist.

Poe S

Jan 21, 2019

this movie is deal with Palestinian people.

Han L

Jan 12, 2019

This movie deserves all the award it gets because this is a well told story. The movie shows your every raw bit of what happened in that era , it doesnâ(TM)t not hold back. Brilliant!

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Adrien Brody

Wladyslaw Szpilman

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Synopsis

In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde
Screenwriter: Wladyslaw Szpilman, Ronald Harwood
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R (Violence|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 27, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.8K
Runtime: 2h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround

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