The Pianist

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

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

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.

The fact that the director never once caves into easy sentiment or cheap hectoring is almost as amazing as the story itself.

The loneliness, guilt and impotence on Brody's face is haunting. His performance is extraordinary.

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]

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.

A master work on humanity vs. inhumanity, on the resilience and mercy of art, and on the personal horrors brought on by one of the world’s darkest events.

An obligatory watch for any true cinephiles and film history buffs. [Full review in Spanish]