THE PIANIST

Year: 2002
USA: Focus Features
UK: Pathe Distribution
Cast: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer, Daniel Caltagirone, Ruth Platt, Katarzyna Bargielowska, Andrzej Blumenfeld, Paul Bradley, Joanna Brodzik, Zofia Czerwinska, Emilio Fernandez, Katarzyna Figura, Lejb Fogelman, Nina Franoszek, Ben Harlan, Udo Kroschwald, Anthony Milner, Valentine Pelka, Popeck, Uwe Rathsam, Richard Ridings, Nomi Sharron, Lucy Skeaping, Roddy Skeaping, Roy Smiles, Ronan Vibert, Detlev von Wangenheim, Darian Wawer, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Michal Zebrowski
Director: Roman Polanski
Countries: UK / France / Germany / Poland / Netherlands
USA & UK: 148 mins
USA Rated: R for violence and brief strong language
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong wartime violence and horror
USA Release Date: 3 January 2003 (Limited Release - wider)
USA Release Date: 27 December 2002 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 24 January 2003

Synopsis

The winner of the top prize, the coveted Palme D'Or (Best Picture) awarded, at the 2002 Cannes International Film Festival, THE PIANIST is the latest film from legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski. The film is Polanski's most personal statement, the one he has waited four decades to make, a testament to the belief that the triumph of the human spirit is wedded to the transforming power of art.

THE PIANIST was adapted by UK playwright/screenwriter Ronald Harwood from the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a brilliant Polish pianist, a Jew, who escapes deportation. Forced to live in the heart of the Warsaw ghetto, he shares the suffering, the humiliation and the struggles. He manages to escape and hides in the ruins of the capital.

A German officer comes to his aid and helps him to survive.