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The pianist [videorecording] /

Contributor(s):

Material type: Film

FilmPublisher number: 22766 | UniversalLanguage: English, French, Spanish Summary language: French, Spanish Original language: English Publication details: [United States] : Universal, c2002.Edition: Widescreen edDescription: 1 videodisc (149 min.) : sound, color with black and white sequences ; 4 3/4 inContent type:

two-dimensional moving image

Media type:

video

Carrier type:

videodisc

ISBN:

078327856X

Uniform titles:

Pianist (Motion picture : 2002)

Subject(s): DDC classification:

791.43/72 21

Production credits:

Director of photography, Pawel Edelman ; editor, Herve de Luze ; music, Wojciech Kilar ; costume designer, Anna Sheppard ; production designer, Allan Starski.

Cast: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer.Summary: Directed by Roman Polanski. The Pianist, based on the life of classical pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, is an elegantly produced, directed and acted film about how one man survived the occupation of Warsaw by the Germans. Szpilman, a pianist of talent and note, had led a privileged life in Poland prior to the coming of the Nazis. His family, like many other Jewish families, were slow to recognize and respond to the ultimate danger of Hitler's regime on all of the Jews in Europe. When Poland is occupied they see the slow erosion of their liberties as Poles and the subsequent dehumanization of themselves and their compatriots. The Pianist is a film of Szpilman's learning and understanding about survival. Initially, he, like most of his family, seems overcome by the nature of what the Germans are doing and relies on his sense of dignity and his intelligence as a way to counter the disorder and fear around him. As the evidence of the genocidal nature of the Germans' plans for the survivors in the Warsaw ghetto become clearer to him, Szpilmnan's instincts for survival grow stronger, more determined. The Pianist is Polanski's finest film in years. The film's story is partly a reflection on his childhood memories of the occupation of his homeland but also on the heroism and sacrifices of Szpilman, those who aided him, and those who made such a determined resistance, during the last 3 years of the war. Adrien Brody's transformation from an elegant, almost pampered artist to a cunning man hiding under the very noses of the enemy is fine work by the young actor. With: Thomas Kretschmann as Capt. Wilm Hosenfeld, Frank Finlay as the Mr. Szpilman, Maureen Lipman as Mrs. Szpilman, Emilia Fox as Dorota, Ed Stoppard as Henryk, Julia Rayner as Regina, Jessica Kate Meyer as Halina, Ruth Platt as Janina, Zbigniew Zamachowski as man with coins, and Katarzyna Figura as the neighbor. Notes: Produced by Roman Polanski. Screenplay by Ronald Harwood from the book by Wladyslaw Szpilman. Cinematography by Pawl Edelman. Score by Wojciech Kilar, featuring the music of Frederic Chopin. Box-office gross: $32,500,00 U.S. & $12,300,000 International.Summary: Based on the memoirs of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew, who was a brilliant pianist. He watched as his family was shipped off to Nazi labor camps. He managed to escape and lived for years in the ruins of Warsaw, hiding from the Nazis.

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Shelving location	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Video Recording	Carleton University, AVRC	SP456 - Collections Room	DVD 0319 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available		16050091943

Originally produced or released in 2002.

Based on the book Śmierć miasta by Wladyslaw Szpilman.

Special features: "A story of survival" featurette which includes insight into the making of the film, Roman Polanski's own story of survival during WWII, behind-the-scenes interviews with Oscar winners Roman Polanski, Adrien Brody and Ronald Harwood, clips of Wladyslaw Szpilman playing the piano.

Run time: approx. 148 min.

DVD, Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound.

Closed-captioned; English, French or Spanish soundtracks, optional French or Spanish subtitles.

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The pianist [videorecording] /