LINK TO SOURCES FROM THE NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Pianist--a synopsis
Director, Roman Polanski brings us the story of the actual life of Wladyslaw Szpilman. Szpilman was the most accomplished pianist in all of Poland, if not Europe, during the devastating 1930’s. When World War II broke out, however, Szpilman suffered the same harsh consequences that other Jews in Europe were subjected to. Anti-Jewish laws were forced upon him by the Nazis. By the beginning of the 1940s, Szpilman said farewell to concert halls and was abruptly thrust into the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw. He had to watch his family being deported to death camps and he was forced to work in a German labor camp. Szpilman decides to escape this fate and goes into hiding as a Jewish refugee. He bears witness to both the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw City Revolt in 1945. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role as Szpilman.
Other Facts:
Listen to Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor.
Director, Roman Polanski brings us the story of the actual life of Wladyslaw Szpilman. Szpilman was the most accomplished pianist in all of Poland, if not Europe, during the devastating 1930’s. When World War II broke out, however, Szpilman suffered the same harsh consequences that other Jews in Europe were subjected to. Anti-Jewish laws were forced upon him by the Nazis. By the beginning of the 1940s, Szpilman said farewell to concert halls and was abruptly thrust into the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw. He had to watch his family being deported to death camps and he was forced to work in a German labor camp. Szpilman decides to escape this fate and goes into hiding as a Jewish refugee. He bears witness to both the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw City Revolt in 1945. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role as Szpilman.
Other Facts:
- The Pianist was nominated for seven Academy Awards: Best Actor, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, (all of which it won), as well as Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Picture.
- See this link for more information about Chopin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chopin
Listen to Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor.