Based on a true story, and at almost two and a half hours in length, this is quite an immersive film experience. If you havent got into the film by the first hour, youre unlikely to, so you may as well turn it off and do something else with your time. I think I would want to see this film again (not in a hurry, though!) before I know if I actually like it or not. I really like Roman Polanski, so I was excited at the prospect of reviewing this film. My first impression, HAVING stuck it out, was one of anti-climax. Whatever I was expecting, I didnt get it. I think I wanted to feel outraged, and really connect with a sentimental recollection of one mans inspirational story of survival! Forget it! This film is a decidedly un-sentimental and matter-of-fact portrayal of life in the Warsaw ghetto. If you dont like being obviously emotionally manipulated by a film, then you will probably think this is great. It did win three Oscars (Best Actor, Adrien Brody, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director, Roman Polanski) and lots of other European awards across numerous categories.

The story tells of one man, Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a pianist who survives the Nazi occupation of Warsaw but loses everything he has in the process  except for his love of music. He is periodically aided by German friends, even a sympathetic Nazi officer (played by Thomas Kretschmann), but his struggle is a lonely and increasingly desperate one, especially as the war draws to a close.

I think that the general lack of emotion I felt when watching this film somehow mirrored Szpilmans growing emotional distance from the horrors he witnessed daily. No doubt a survival mechanism. Still, Im not sure that I enjoyed this film, and this is really frustrating! Every other year another film exploring the WWII Jewish experience appears, and perhaps I am becoming a little jaded? I dont think I would have chosen to review this film if Polanski wasnt involved, but I suspect this has worked against me, as Ive usually had a strong reaction to his other films, and this one seems to be a definite shoulder-shrugger for me!

One thing that really stands out in this film is the arbitrary nature of the violence perpetrated against Jews at this time. Expect lots of scenes where people are abused, or killed in the streets for no reason at all other than that it CAN be done. Concentration camps were not the only places where Jews were murdered, but I guess I forgot this until I saw these scenes. The extent of the starvation in the Jewish ghetto is also something that this film exposes. The cinematography is good  a lot of attention to detail helps a good deal of Polanskis vision for the film to be realised. The distance shot of the abandoned buildings is amazing because it is real. I was convinced that it was computer generated until I saw the documentary in the extras, which I recommend you watch before you see the film.

Ummm, what else can I say, except that the music is beautifully poignant? Some originally scored by Swojciech Kilar, the rest presenting works by Frederic Chopin. I imagine that the contrast of the genteel and the brutal was too tempting for Polanski to refuse. Therell be many viewers that will automatically place this film in the arty category for this reason alone! I think this film is more your ‘mainstream’ Polanski. Its a jarring combination, but it works, I guess.

THE EXTRAS

Not overdone, thankfully. I feared there would be loads of extras, given that the film won Oscars and BAFTAs and other international awards, but I forget  its not a special effects extravaganza, so that wipes out a lot! There is a photo gallery, international posters, a trailer, filmographies for Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann and the films director, Roman Polanski. Theres also an original soundtrack plug.

The only interesting thing is a 40 minute making-of documentary entitled A Story of Survival. We get comment from Polanski, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, the producer, co-producer, screenwriter, production designer and director of photography. It helped me understand why the film had struck me as lacking in emotion. Seems that it was an intentional strategy employed by Polanksi. I watched the film before I saw this and was prepared to call it very over-rated. I might just temper myself a little now, as the point of this doco seems to be to EXPLAIN that the book on which this is based (written by Wladyslaw Szpilman, played by Adrien Brody) was written immediately after the war, and reads like a journal. Bringing this story to life on screen required story and script development that tries not to create what isnt there on the page. Szpilman himself was not alive when this film was made, only his widow. Not easy. Polanski was obviously using the KISS! principle (keep it simple, stupid!) and relied on viewing copious amounts of archival footage  taken by Nazi soldiers  in an attempt to more accurately recreate Nazi occupied Warsaw, and the ways in which the regime dealt with the Jewish population. This translates as a rather matter-of-fact look at the arbitrary violence that characterised this period. The actors were encouraged to underplay their roles. Polanski himself has survived this dark period of human history, HAVING lost his family (with the exception of his father) in Krakow. He drew upon some of his own experiences as well. Some great cinematography was also created for this film, and how they achieved greater authenticity was an eye-opener. Definitely worth watching, and doing it before the film will probably help you appreciate the films perspective.

CONCLUSION

I cant make my mind up on this film. At just under 2 1/2 hours, its portrayal of pianist and Warsaw ghetto survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman is very unsentimental; you may find youre decidedly unemotional throughout this film and wonder why! HAVING won three Oscars (Best Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay) and numerous international awards, Roman Polanski has gone to great lengths to stay true to the book on which it is based. He has researched the Nazi film archives of this period to recreate a vivid picture of the systematic erosion of humanity of both victims and perpetrators. The acting is understated, and the violence and starvation forced upon the Jewish people is portrayed unflinchingly. I found it to be lacking emotion, but I think that this is what Polanski intended. The documentary in the extras is a must-see, and Id recommend watching it before you view the film. Realism is a primary focus of this project and Im all for it, but I think the repeatedly violent and distressing images somehow de-sensitised me, and I didnt connect with the main character as a result.

A full 5.1 soundtrack makes the most of the hauntingly beautiful musical score.