The Pianist Essay

The Pianist Essay
'The Pianist' is a cinematic masterpiece by the Polish director Roman Polanski. One of the key
ideas that appear throughout much of the film is that of 'hope being instrumental in our survival'.
This idea is portrayed through Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish pianist, as he struggles for survival in
Warsaw as everybody that he once knew and everything that he once had is lost. The idea of 'hope
being instrumental in our survival' is worth learning about as it allows the audience to realise the
importance of hope in todays society – and to understand how Polanski uses music to symbolise
'hope' for Szpilman in the film. Polanski effectively utilises an array of visual and oral text features
such as music, dialogue, and lighting to build further...show more content...
He is unable to play because he will give himself away so we instead watch his fingers move
across the air above the piano's keys as whilst the sound plays in his head and too the viewer.
Throughout the film we also see Szpilman pretending to play the piano as he taps his finger across
his legs. It is moments such as these that help to maintain Szpilman's willingness to survive by
keeping silent, but also how piano gives fills him with the hope that is instrumental in his survival.
In other scenes such as when a German officer asks Szpilman to play piano for him, and allows him
to live because of his immense talent we begin to realise that Szpilman's hope – music, does not only
help him to survive mentally, but also physically as he can share the gift that he has to others. It is
also important to note that Polanski only music by the Polish composer, Chopin is used throughout '
The Pianist'. His sad and evocative music brings upon a sad mood, yet one with a hint of hope and
with this, the director can more vividly express his ideas a way that dialogue or action cannot.
Another oral feature used throughout the film to express the director's idea of 'hope being
instrumental to our survival' is dialogue. Whilst Szpilman's actions are usually used to express the
director's ideas, there are multiple instances where dialogue is used effectively to express them. In
one scene around a third of the way into the film, Mr. Lipa, a businessman
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The Piano Movie Analysis
Jane Campion's "The Piano" is one of the most intense yet inquisitive films that I have ever
encountered. The film takes us on a climatic roller coaster ride of passionate love, silence and pride
set in the midst of the earthy, muddy climate of New Zealand. The story tells of a woman who uses
her choice of silence as her protest against patriarchy, and the toxic masculinity of her husband, all
while utilizing her piano and her daughter to communicate for her.
The film begins with the main character Ada and her daughter Flora, being shipped off to marry a
man she has never met before named Stewart. Accompanying them is Ada's piano which holds a
significant amount of importance to her. In the very beginning of the film she says, "I have not
spoken since I was 6 years old" As a result, her only way of communicating is either through the
sign language she uses with her daughter who then translates it, or through her piano. Although
having the piano is a priority to her, her husband Stewart does not share the same sentiment and
refuses to bring the piano up to their house. Since he sees no importance in the piano or her desire
to have it decides to simply leave the piano exactly where arrived on the beach. One of Stewart's
men, Baines decides to buy the piano in hopes of getting piano lessons from Ada. Since he is the
owner of the piano and knows she wants it back he arranges a deal with her that he will give her
back one piano key at a time in exchange for sexual favors during lessons. Initially, Ada is
appalled by his advances but soon they develop a strong relationship and eventually an intimate
one after he gives her the piano. Initially when Stewarts finds out about the budding relationship
between the two he watches them in the act of intimacy and later boards the house to keep her
confined until he feels she won't go to Baines again. As time passes he begins to feel as if he can
trust her again and takes the boards off of the house but urges her not to see him again. Although
she does not go to see Baines again she decides to send him a goodbye gift in the form of a piano
key through Flora. However, instead of going to Baines Flora tells Stewart who then pursues Ada in
rage and chops off her finger He

A Review of The Pianist Essay
The Pianist, directed and produced by Roman Polanski, depicts a pianists struggle
for survival in a Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. The film really contains only two
vital roles: the first one being Wladyslaw Szpilman played by Adrian Brody. The second
role, Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, is played by Thomas Kretschmann. I watched the film on
Sunday, the7th of September, at my place of residence. The movie is based on
Szpilman's autobiography The Pianist.
The Pianist begins with Wladyslaw Szpilman playing his piano in a Polish radio
station when the station is bombed, inferring the beginning of World War II. That
evening, he returns home to his family only to find out that Polish law now requires all of...show
more content...
The general lets Wladyslaw keep his own life and a few weeks
later the Russians liberate anyone left in the ghettoes of Warsaw. Although he loses his
family, he manages to build up his life once more and the movie concludes with him
playing a piano movement in an orchestra.
Obviously since the movie was based upon Wladyslaw's autobiography, the
characters in the movie are based upon real people. Adrian Brody, who plays Wladyslaw
Szpilman, plays Wladyslaw very well and his acting made me feel as if I were actually
watching a film shot in the 1940's. An ongoing event throughout the whole movie was a
war, more specifically World War II. The accuracy in which the ghettoes and World War
II were portrayed is hauntingly beautiful. It perfectly shows the tragedy and triumphs that
Wladyslaw as well as every other citizen living in Warsaw felt during that time period.

The Pianist was set in Warsaw, Poland. When movie scenes containing the
construction (and utter destruction) of the ghettoes during World War II were compared
to those taken during World War II, there are very few discrepancies. The movie roughly
followed a course of about five to six years. Upon further research, I determined that
most of the props featured in the film were shockingly accurate (a rare occasion in
Hollywood films) featuring objects from clothing to food as well as silverware.
The movies biggest strength

The Pianist Analysis
Due to its widespread influence, music has often been described as "the universal language", and its
allure has inspired the creation of various works in other forms of art – such as film or literature.
Roman Polanski's film The Pianist follows the true story of the Jewish pianist Wladek Szpilman
during the Holocaust, while the novel The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway tells the
fictional story of three Sarajevan citizens during the siege of Sarajevo, whose lives have all been
impacted by the music of a cellist. Both stories exemplify the valuable power of music during
wartime, unveiling its remarkable ability to influence one's identity, foster hope, and encourage
individuals to be merciful.
Music is intertwined with the identity of Szpilman in The Pianist, and is responsible for restoring the
identity of characters in The Cellist. This association is manifested in a poignant scene in which
Szpilman plays the piano silently at his shelter. Despite the apparent differences between his past
existence as a famous pianist and his present condition as a Jew in hiding, his expression remains as
passionate and dignified as when he plays piano under no threat of persecution (The Pianist). His
performance establishes the role music plays in preserving his sense of self during uncertain times.
Another event emphasizing this relationship occurs several years after his entrance to the ghetto,
when Szpilman meets a German soldier in the building where he resides. In response to

Analysis Of The Pianist
The Pianist is a film directed by Roman Polanski that took place in Poland, in the year 1939, and
was based on the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman. Szpilman was a Polish–Jewish pianist that
played live on the radio in Warsaw. The story follows Szpilman as he and his family struggle to live
through the German occupation of Warsaw in World War II. Szpilman and his family are forced to
adapt to the new rules and discrimination of the Nazi regime. They are later forced to move to the
Warsaw ghetto with the rest of the Jewish population, which was over 400,000 people(United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum "Warsaw"). After a few years, Szpilman's family was put on
a train going to a concentration camp, however a Jewish police officer saved Szpilman and let him
escape. The film then tells of the harsh times Szpilman spent in hiding in the Warsaw ghetto and the
people that hid and fed him. Wladyslaw Szpilman was played by Adrien Brody, who won an Oscar
for his amazing performance in the film. The Pianist demonstrates the timeline and conditions of
Warsaw through German behavior towards theJews, subtleties in the background, and the change in
mood through the color tones. When the Germans annexed Poland they established a new
government they called "Generalgouvernement"(United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
"German Administration of Poland"). In the eyes of this government Jews were seen as inferior.
Throughout the film the evolution of the Nazis' aggression closely

Summary of The Pianist Essays
The Pianist
Summary
From 1939 to 1945, the world merely watched while six million Jews were viciously executed by
the Nazis. Never in the history of the world had man kind experienced such evil against one class
of people. The Pianist, a movie directed by Roman Polanski, is a touching, yet brutally honest film
about a man living under the unforgiving conditions of the Holocaust. Adrien Brody demonstrates
spectacular acting skills while playing this man, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The story starts out in
Warsaw, Poland, 1939, at the house of Szpilman's Jewish family. Szpilman helped to support his
family by playing the piano at different cafes and bars, and for the Polish radio station. By 1940,
the Nazi force had already impacted many of...show more content...
The Warsaw ghetto had to house about 360,000 Jews at the time Wladyslaw Szpilman arrived. Each
family was given an extremely small area to live in and usually had to share the space with at least
one other family. To make matters worse, the Nazis had ordered a wall to be built around the entire
ghetto, sealing off the Jewish community from the rest of Warsaw. The ghetto became home to
140,000 more Jews just after a couple of months since Szpilman had arrived – that's half a million
Jews in sixteen blocks! A rumor that the Nazis were going to liquidate the ghetto began to spread
around the community. The only way to avoid this was to obtain an employment certificate. On
the 16th of August 1942, Szpilman's family was deported in cattle cars to concentration camps.
Wladyslaw escaped this deadly fate with the help of a Jewish policeman. For two and a half
years, Szpilman suffered torture, starvation, and isolation while hiding from the Nazis. By then,
there were only 60,000 Jews left, out of half a million! The 60,000 who are left worked for the
Nazis. These Jews snuck in guns and bombs through the potato sacks they received from the market
for their work. They then threw the weapons over the walls of the ghetto to the people inside during
the night. This was the start of a revolt against the Germans. Wladyslaw became very sick during the
time of the revolt, at which the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto were killing many of the Nazis. During
the revolt,

The Pianist And The Pianist
Holocaust is one of the most dreadful and unforgettable time in human history. This event of a
huge genocide has become the topic of many films; and "The Pianist" is one of the films."The
Pianist" is a historical drama directed by Roman Polanski. The movie is based on the true
memories of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish pianist who had survived from the Holocaust. The
movie describes how Wladyslaw Szpilman manages to escape from the Ghetto and survive through
the massacre of Jews in Poland by luck. The most surprising scene in the movie is when a German
captain, Wilm Hosenfeld, help Wladyslaw Szpilman by bringing him food and not letting other Nazi
officers find him. The director himself, Roman Polanski, is a survivor of the Holocaust as well.
...show more content...
The storyline of "The Pianist" is arranged in a chronological order. Polanski made the overall pace
of the movie is really slow. In the movie, Szpilman gradually changes from a gentleman into a
savage. There are many scenes where Szpilman is alone, struggling to stay alive and keep
humanity within him. Szpilman's mental state grow stronger as he tries to survive in the crumble
Warsaw city. A slow pace in the movie is necessary to show how Szpilman has developed a stronger
inner character throughout the whole incident. The way how Polanski chose to direct this movie is
very interesting. Polanski chose to film the movie in a subjective way, where the audience can only
see the incidents through Szpilman's perspective. While watching the movie, we are not just looking
at Szpilman in a third person perspective, instead, we existed in Szpilman's mind. The audience can
get an idea of how the situation must have been during the Holocaust. There is a particular scene in
the movie where an ear–piercing sound appeared after the explosion. In the scene, Polanski put the
audiences straight into Szpilman's mind, so they can experience how Szpilman feel after the
bombing. Polanski's unique directing style allow him to won "Best Director" in

Analysis of the Pianist Essay
–Use of light:
Gray is an important color in the movie: most of the movie is in gray
The movie started with showing some colorful scene, as the story progress, the dominant color
become gray.
First sign of light and hope when the Nazis prepare to leave Warsaw shown by the first glimmer of
sunlight
Same symbol in the scene that Szpilman plays for the German commander: light shining on the
piano and the pianist, both representing hope
–Put us into the protagonist's perspective:
Lack of close–up of what Szpilman is looking at, for instance from the window
In one scene, a bomb explodes nearby, and on the soundtrack we hear a high– pitched whistling that
simulates what Szpilman is hearing. Polanski puts us into...show more content...
–During that time, the economic situation in Germany and many Germans suffered from poverty and
starvation. It is one of the leading causes to Holocaust and anti–Semitic ideology:
– Jews monopolized Germany's economy. Jews owned half of the private banks and most of the
chain store. They also played an important role in the German stock market and newspapers.
Example in the movie: One of the German told the Jews that were building the wall that he will
make them a deal saying that if they work well, they will be treated well. He says: "It is a good deal.
Isn't it something that you Jews are good at?"
World War I: from 1914 to 1918
– Germany lost and had to pay for all the damages made during the war.
–During that time, the economic situation in Germany and many Germans suffered from poverty
and starvation. It is one of the leading causes to Holocaust and anti–Semitic ideology:
– Jews monopolized Germany's economy. Jews owned half of the private banks and most of the
chain store. They also played an important role in the German stock market and newspapers.

The Pianist Analysis
How does Polanski convey the differences between privilege and oppression throughout The Pianist?
The Pianist (2002) is a true story, based in 1944, about a Jewish pianist named Wladyslaw Szpilman.
At the beginning of the film, the German Army had just taken control of Poland, and the film
follows Wladyslaw's journey as the Germans swiftly strip the Jews of their rights, relocate them to a
ghetto, and dehumanize their entire community.
Throughout the course of The Pianist the filmmaker, Roman Polanski, visualizes the differences
between the Privileged and the oppressed in Warsaw during World War II using a variety of
cinematic techniques such as lighting and focus, and narrative elements such as Juxtaposition and
character development.
In...show more content...
In scenes where Wladyslaw is playing the piano, the tone of the music that he plays is used to
express, to the audience, the emotions that Wladyslaw was feeling. The tone of these musical
pieces varied a lot throughout the film. When Wladyslaw was in his position working at the radio
station he was seen as an equal to all of his co–workers and peers. These were the scenes where his
music was light, playful, and cheery. As the Germans begin to oppress the Jewish community his
music becomes more solemn, finally reaching the point when he plays for the German officer,
when he has reached emotional rock bottom, and he's under the impression that he was about to
be killed. The general backing tracks in different locations were also powerful in stating the
general mood of an area. In the more privileged areas, there is light and civilized music and
chatter. The rhythm indicates that people are going about their normal day to day business. In the
ghetto the noise is musky. The streets are loud, but the people are quiet, and the general track is
dark. This pictures a damp, dirty area in which people are sick, their spirits are low, and there's little
hope. This contrast between the privileged and the oppressed was usually indicated by a change in
tempo, pitch, and tone. The varying use of lighting in The Pianist contrasts the quality of life
between the

Themes In The Pianist
How does Roman Polanski show that humans are able to endure hardship when there's hope in the
film The Pianist? The human will to survive is a major theme in Roman Polanski "The Pianist".
The film about a Jewish Pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman who was in Poland at the time of the german
invasion. As his family is rounded up to be shipped off to a Nazi labor camp, he escapes deportation
and eludes capture by living in the ruins of Warsaw. the movie goes into great length showing that
humans are able to endure so much hardship when there's hope. By using a multitude of techniques
such as but not limited to, the use of music and sounds, the characterization, and the use of colour
and lighting. Those few cinematic techniques and narrative elements will be dissected so we can
have a better understand how Roman Polanski show that humans are able to endure hardship when
there's hope Music plays a big part within this film. Amidst the sounds of beating, gunshots, and
crying that emphasize a powerful and destructive feeling, the sound of the piano brings an unbridled
feeling of hope to this film. At the beginning of the movie, Wladyslaw is seen playing Chopin's
Nocturne "Lento con gran espressione," this is than interrupted by the sound of bombings. Although
Wladyslaw continues to play the piece it is a beautiful demonstration of how hope is portrayed in the
movie. A beautiful piano piece disturbed by the sounds of bombs, gunshots, and broken glass. The
film shows the audience that

Biases In The Film: The Pianist
Some biases I had coming into watching The Pianist was that I love history and learning more and
more about it. One of my most favorite time eraas to study is World War Two and the holocaust.
Right when I saw that this movie would be about those two things I right away already liked it. To
my luck it was an amazing film that strategically told a story of truth and strength.

Film Analysis Of The Pianist
The Pianist is a film released in 2002 by Roman Polanski and was based on a 1946 memoir of
Szpilman by the writer Jerzy Waldorff. It follows the perspective of Wladyslaw Szpilman and how
he survives the abundance of destruction from the Nazis in WW2 with only the comfort of his love
of music. This film depicts the harrowing journey of Wladyslaw and how as pivotal events occur, the
more desperate he is to survive when he is faced with deadly encounters and inhumane living
conditions. Polanski portrays desperation through specific shots and framing, dramatic auditory and
visual components that induced heart wrenching emotions, and mise en scene that shows the main
characters depressing journey. The perspective of Szpilman in the film...show more content...
The adversity that Wladyslaw experiences is apparent in his eating habits when he is in hiding.
Food becomes scarce and he becomes desperate to eat anything somewhat edible. A prominent
example of this is when he is cooking the potato and beans. Roman exhibits how he has to ration
the food in order to survive over weeks by filming close ups of the food. The close up shows that
potato is dark and rotten but he eats it due to the desperation for something to sustain him for a bit
longer. As Szpilman cooks the beans, the camera focuses on the pot and Wladyslaw placing a very
small amount of beans in the pot, representing his little resources. Polanski successfully utilizes
frames and shots throughout the whole film to powerfully interpret the hardship of WW2 and how
massacre and destruction leads to oppressed members of society, similar to Wladyslaw, developing
reckless behaviour and desperation for any sustenance to keep on breathing. Polanski applies the use
of mise en scГЁne to epitomize the characterisation of the protagonist in both direct and indirect
ways; Szpilman is directly shown as a well–known lighthearted pianist living happily but as the film
progresses, he is indirectly portrayed as a weak traumatised man who has experienced a grievous
struggle and led to his desperate acts of survival.

Essay about The Pianist
The Pianist
Thunder roars all around. Black clouds veil a dying sun. Yet, the storm is not falling from above
but raging from below. The thunder is the cracking of gunfire and the clouds, smoke rising from the
rubble of what once was. With the roar of a lion, planes, looking like angels in the heavens, drop
death upon a city. The buildings that were homes are now corpses, stripped of their flesh and left
gaping. With the earth erupting in hatred, Wladyslaw Szpilman sits upright and continues to play
Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor. The bombs rain unrelentingly. Everyone runs, except for
Szpilman, who is still behind the ivory keys, until a bomb falls upon his office and rips a hole
through the walls. Now Szpilman picks up his...show more content...
Between him and his life, there stood a German soldier. Courageously, the boy approached the
soldier and asked if he could go home to fetch a loaf of bread. The soldier looked down upon this
child and nodded. The only thing this soldier told Roman Polanski was "Don't run." ("Story of
Survival")
Sixty years later, Roman Polanski was finally able to recreate those terrible memories that haunted
him and show the world an un–softened portrayal of what happened back then. He found it too
difficult to tell his own story; the memories cut too deeply into his heart for him to relive them
exactly. "For years [Polanski] searched for someone else's [story] to adapt" (Thomas). A decade
earlier he was offered the position to direct "Schindler's List," "but turned down the offer to direct it
because it was set in Krakow" (Thomas).
There is quite a difference between this movie and previous movies about World War II. For one,
the movie is very quiet. For a large portion of the movie, Szpilman is alone in the world. On
occasion someone drops by to deliver food but for the most part dialogue is nonexistent. The
larger difference between this and others is Szpilman is not a hero nor does he exhibit
characteristics of heroism. He is not a soldier fighting for his country; he is not a rebel who joins
the Resistance and fights from the inside, he is not a business man who gives up all he has to save
the lives of as many people as he can. Szpilman is a pianist and to that his

The Main Characters Of The Pianist's The Pianist
The Pianist is based on the true story of a renowned Polish–Jewish musician who lived through
World War 2 in Warsaw, Poland. At the start of the war, Jewish families had to wear white arm
bands with a blue Star of David and were only allowed a small amount of money. Families were
sent off to concentration camps in packed railroad cars and the families who remained in Warsaw
starved to death. The only reason why the main character, Wladyslaw Szpilman, was able to survive
was through the people who helped give him food, shelter and basic necessities. The kindness of
others helped Wladyslaw survive through the wartimes. Kindness is defined as, an individual that
possesses a sympathetic or helpful nature. One of the main themes within The Pianist is that
kindness can be found in the most unexpected places, even in Nazi Germany.
Wladyslaw Szpilman found help from countless people, even from Germans who were not Jewish.
Irena Sendler was a social worker who lived in Warsaw. She was a part of the Polish Underground
and a Holocaust resistance. It is estimated that she saved more than 2,000 Jewish children from the
Ghetto. She was awarded the "Righteous among the Nations" in 1965. Irena Sendler said,
To save one Jewish child, ten Poles and two Jews had to risk death. To betray that same child and
the family that hid him required only one informer or, worse still, one blackmailer. The risk of being
caught by the SS was not prison, but death– death for the entire family. (Sendler)

The Pianist Research Paper
THE PIANIST The Pianist was released in December 2002 starring Adrien Brody and directed by
Roman Polanski. The movie was adapted from The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story Of One
Man's Survival in Warsaw, an autobiography written by WЕ‚adysЕ‚aw Szpilman. The purpose of the
autobiography was to describe Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw, Poland during the horrific events
of the Holocaust. This film received the Academy Award for best actor and best director.
The film begins with a German bombing during one of Szpilman's performances on a radio station.
Once he was home, he discovered that England and France had declared war on Germany. This event
however, did not keep the Germans from forcing the Jews into ghettos where they were faced with
extremely poor living conditions. The hatred against the Jews caused Nazis to begin execute and
send them to concentration camps. Szpilman...show more content...
This is noted at the end of the movie where the ghettos in Warsaw were completely destroyed due to
the execution of the Jews. Discrimination was a major cultural influence involving the war against
the Jews. This shaped society in Warsaw, Poland as the Jewish people were treated badly and even
assassinated. The film showed the Jews being thrown out of their homes and killed in the streets. The
governments represented in The Pianist were Fascism or absolute dictatorship. This is demonstrated
as Germany's Adolf Hitler held power over Poland after Warsaw surrendered from German bombing.
In the economy, Jewish people made a living by constructing buildings, becoming soldiers, and
preparing food for other Jews. The economic ideology was socialism, which means that the
community owns and regulates production and distribution. Social structures on racism have
impacted history by making discrimination laws so history, like the execution of the Jews, won't
repeat

The Pianist Progression
Through the form of music, expression and emotion can be conveyed by the musician to the
listener. I started off my musical career when I was a little older than five years old and starting
off on the piano. At first, getting me to practice the piano took the tiresome effort of my parents
when I was younger. But, as I grew older I started to appreciate music more, so I would practice
more willingly and I tried to excel farther with my musical abilities. Through practice I became a
better pianist, and soon began to be able to play more advance pieces. However, there came a point
where I was sort of stuck in a position where I couldn't excel any further in my piano abilities, and I
came to realization that I hadn't strengthened my rudiments or...show more content...
The broad category of musical notation consists of all the symbols used to create any given piece of
music. This includes notes, rests, dynamics, clef, and so on. By becoming familiar and fluent in
musical notation, you'll be able to read and play any piece of music. At first, it can be very
overwhelming to see a difficult piece of music due to the unfamiliar notation. This can be solved
by memorizing and becoming accustomed to all the different notations in music, which can only
be accomplished through practice. A pianist needs to have a good understanding of different
rhythms and syncopation which can be found in mostly every piece of music. A way of figuring
out a difficult rhythm is by breaking it down and subdividing. A pianist who can play any rhythm
will have no trouble playing more advanced pieces of music. Tempo is an important skill that
belongs in this level of every pianist's toolbox. A piano player needs to be able to play at a fast
tempo, as well as a slow tempo, and stay on beat throughout a whole piece. Every skilled pianist has
the ability to change tempo within a piece when written to do so. This can be done through
becoming familiar with different tempos. Many difficult piano songs have numerous tempo changes
and hard rhythms, making the second level of your toolbox extremely

Essay on The Pianist
Johnson 1
Kayla Johnson
Prof. Hirchfelder, K–213
ENG2102, Sec. 06
26 March 2013
Scene Analysis Paper
Musical Dependency The 2002 film, The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski focuses on the
hardships of a well–known, local concert pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman. Wladyslaw Szpilman is
played by actor Adrien Brody, who does an excellent job portraying both the warmhearted side of
Szpliman and the desperate struggling side we see later on in the film. The film is based on
Szpilman's book, The Pianist where he discusses true events he underwent during the German
takeover of Warsaw. He was one of twenty survivors out of the 360,000 Jewish people killed from
Warsaw, Poland. "Passion for Survival in Polanski's The Pianist" by Diana Diamond...show more
content...
He is even limping because he was hurt just by jumping over a five foot fence. Szpilman has gone
through every obstacle to be thrown at him until he breaks. Stumbling through this huge house he
finds a single can of food and eagerly begins to search for something to open it. He finally comes
across a fireplace poker. As he tries to stab his way into the can it falls to the ground and the camera
enters an extreme close–up on it. By using a close–up we have nothing else to look at and nothing
else to think about aside from this fallen can. Suddenly we see feet and the camera slowly tilts
upward creating suspense until it reaches an extremely calm yet serious German officer. The
officer speaks, "What are you doing here?" At first, Szpilman at a loss for words, in fear does not
answer. "Who are you?' the officer asks, 'Understand?"
When Szpilman assures him he does the officer repeats, "What are you doing?"
"I was... trying to open this can." Szpilman mumbles out.
Johnson 3
Soon after the officer asks, "What do you do?"
"I am... I was, a pianist" Szpilman responds with every bit of dignity he has left. (2:01–2:03)
The man standing in this scene looks entirely different from the spirited concert pianist we knew. It
is almost hard for the audience to view Szpilman as the same man from the beginning of the film.
However, with the proper use of dialogue Polanski reminds us he is still that man, he is a pianist.
The scene directly following is used in

Roman Polanski 's Film, The Pianist
Roman Polanski's film "The Pianist" follows the journey of a Polish Jew named Wladyslaw
Szpilman. Szpilman is a pianist who was playing for a Warsaw radio station when the first German
bombs fell. Once World War ll begins Szpilman and his family are forced to live in the Warsaw
ghetto, but he is later separated from them. At this time Warsaw is surrounded with German soldiers
and from this time up until the concentration camp prisoners are released. Hiding in abandoned, run
down building Szpilman struggles to survive. While in hiding a German officer Captain Wilm
Hosenfeld tells Szpilman to play the piano. The director Roman Polanski intelligently uses key
representations of symbolism throughout the film to develop the idea that to survive...show more
content...
Lighting paired with the overall colour scheme leads the viewers to believe that something not so
good may occur soon. Sure enough, this is the scene when the first German bombs are dropped in
Warsaw 1939. From here on up until the turning point of the film the lighting is very dark. I think
that this is very important, as Polanski has done this in order to exaggerate and evoke emotion
within the audience. Another symbolic scene is when Szpilman is hiding in an old abandon
building he is approached by a German officer called Wilm Hosenfeld. Hosenfeld orders Szpilman
to play the piano, and at this time Hosenfeld's appearance is strong as we see in a close up of
Hosenfeld. The room is dark with grey lighting and Szpilman is thin, wearing frayed dark clothing,
he has blended in with the lighting and background. But as Szpilman begins to play the piano, a veil
of light shines on him. The veil of light then shifts onto Szpilman which portrays him metaphorically
as an angel, conveying that he is in a position of power, rather than Hosenfeld, who previously was.
This scene in particular with the light on Szpilman is a significant point in the film because it is the
turning point. Szpilman is weak, thin and the lighting leading up to this scene is dark, then after this
scene the lighting begins to brighten as well as Szpilman's life. Although we, the audience do not
think much of the lighting

Summary Of The Piano Lesson By August Wilson
The Piano lesson by August Wilson is a play filled with literary devices and historically
representative events. Despite the fact it takes place in 1936 it still has relevant themes today.
Many of the social issues the characters face are similarly experienced by Americans in this age.
For example police brutality and prejudice is arguably still an issue in 2015. Not just that, but
even though it was written over 20 years ago it was still able to hold the reader's attention with
small bits of mystery drama surrounding the plot. Questions like, Who killed Sutter? Why is the
piano so important to Berniece? Who are the ghosts of yellow dog? Why is Boy Willie so eager
to get rid of the piano? All of these dramatic details keep your eyes peeled when reading this book.
Since it is being read and not preformed close eyes must be kept on the stage notes and directions as
a way to distinguish between what is being shown and what is being implied....show more content...
The parlor is described as "sparsely furnished... a lack of warmth and vigor" showing that the family
doesn't care about material belongings such as expensive furnishings and accessories (Wilson 1).
The setting reflects the values and attitudes of the characters. The setting notes place the Piano at
the heart and vocal point of the room. The grand piano dominates most of the decoration because it
holds the most value to Doaker and Berniece. The piano's legs are covered with mask–like figures,
artfully carved in the manner of African sculpture. The stair case that leads upstairs gives Berniece
and her daughter Maretha a separate place to live while her brother and his friends crowd the
kitchen and living room. The small house is perfect for these 3 people but things start to get
interesting when their family and friends jump in

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