Cinema Consults: THE PIANIST

This film, which can be rentedfrom your local video store, israted on a scale of 1 to 4 caducei:

THE PIANIST

The Pianist

Sophie's Choice

The Diary

of Anne Frank

Schindler's List

The Pianist

(2003): One ofOscar®'s big surprises, adapts the memoirsof Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a PolishJew and gifted classical pianist, who struggles tosurvive the destruction of Warsaw and its Jewishpopulation by the Nazis. The story is gut-wrenching and raw.What I really appreciated from this film was its perspective.gave us the aftermath of the Holocaust, took place in hiding, and wentinside the concentration camps. had me gasping asSzpilman eludes the Nazis practically in plain sight, outside thecamps, alone, running from 1 hiding place to the next. Becauseso much of the film depends on isolation, a lesser actor wouldnever have been able to pull this off. Brody is magnificent; hismasterful performance is equal to the precision of a classical pianist(appropriately); each note in his emotional palette is timed andperfected. He is both subtle and startling. And the cinematographywraps around his performance, complementing everydramatic moment—it is both beautiful and tragic. This is unquestionablya great movie. The fact that it is based on a true storywill send shivers down your spine.

Rating: 4

Lisa A. Tomaszewski, managing editor

of Physician's Money Digest, is currently

working on her PhD in literature at

Drew University in New Jersey. She

is an avid fan of film and has taught

a summer film course at Fairleigh

Dickinson University. She welcomes

questions, comments, or suggestions

for future film reviews at 732-656-1140

ext 195 or ltomaszewski@mwc.com.