The Pianist (2002 film)

The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama film co-produced and directed by Roman Polanski, scripted by Ronald Harwood, and starring Adrien Brody. It is based on the autobiographical book The Pianist, a World War II memoir by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman. The film was a co-production between France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

The Pianist met with significant critical praise and received multiple awards and nominations. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. At the 75th Academy Awards, The Pianist won Oscars for Best Director (Polanski), Best Adapted Screenplay (Ronald Harwood), and Best Actor (Brody), and was also nominated for four other awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film and BAFTA Award for Best Direction in 2003 and seven French Césars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Brody.

Plot

In September 1939, Władysław Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Polish-Jewish pianist, is playing live on the radio in Warsaw when the station is bombed during Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Hoping for a quick victory, Szpilman rejoices with his family at home when learning that Britain and France have declared war on Germany. But the promised aid does not come. Fighting lasts for just over a month, with both the German and Russian armies invading Poland at the same time on different fronts. Warsaw becomes part of the Nazi-controlled General Government. Jews are soon prevented them from working or owning businesses, they are also made to wear blue Star of David armbands.

Pianist (disambiguation)

A pianist is one who plays the piano.

Pianist may also refer to:

The Pianist (soundtrack)

The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture is the original soundtrack, on the Sony Classical label, of the 2002 Academy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated film The Pianist starring Adrien Brody (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as "Władysław Szpilman" in this film), Thomas Kretschmann and Frank Finlay. The Chopin pieces were played by Polish pianist Janusz Olejniczak and the original score piece was composed by Wojciech Kilar. The music in the actual movie also includes pieces by Beethoven and Bach.

In 2003, the music won the César Award for Best Music Written for a Film, and was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music (but lost to the music of The Hours).

Track listing

The Pianist (album)

The Pianist is a studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington compiled from sessions in 1966 and 1970, and released on the Fantasy label in 1974.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars and states "Duke Ellington had so many talents (composer, arranger, bandleader, personality) that his skills as a pianist could easily be overlooked. Fortunately he did record a fair amount of trio albums through the years so there is plenty of evidence as to his unique style which was both modern and traditional at the same time".

Track listing