The Pianist

"The Pianist," a 2002 biographical Holocaust war drama directed and produced by Roman Polanski, unfolds the gripping narrative of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist, composer, and Holocaust survivor, portrayed by Adrien Brody. Premiering at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, the film claimed the Palme d'Or and later garnered critical acclaim for Polanski's direction, Brody's performance, and Ronald Harwood's screenplay. The 75th Academy Awards honored the film with Best Director (Polanski), Best Adapted Screenplay (Harwood), and Best Actor (Brody), among others.

Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Warsaw, the plot traces Szpilman's harrowing journey from the radio station bombing in 1939 to the Warsaw Ghetto and his subsequent struggle for survival during the Warsaw Uprising. Thomas Kretschmann appears as Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer who aids Szpilman. The film, also recognized by BAFTA and French Césars, culminates in Szpilman's post-war return to Polish Radio, performing Chopin, leaving a poignant legacy. In 2016, it earned a spot on BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.