Movie: The Pianist

[ned]

Has anyone seen the new Polanski movie "The Pianist? "  About the pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman in Warsaw during WWII.  Sounds wrenching, but he survives.  The film got a prize at Cannes.

I read it is coming to the US soon.
Ned

[Nemo]

sounds interesting, do you know the date it comes out here?
and have you seen Shine? its about David Helfgott, the Australian virtuoso

i know its old but maybe you havent seen it, seeing that I just watched for my first time Saturday

[Diabolos]

I've seen that movie a few weeks ago; and I'd say it's not only interesting but important.

Ok, don't let the title irritate you - it's not really a movie about a pianist - it's more about a person struggling to survive the horror of Warsaw..

But, and that should be mentioned, there are some sequences when he plays - and they are outstanding and touching at the same time...

But I don't wanna tell too much about that - you gotta go and see that movie. It might be Polanskis best - and most important - yet.

Regards,

[veimar]

There was almost nothing to do with pianist... Of course the horrors of war will never be forgotten, but why it always seems that only JEWS suffered of them?
Well, but the solos he played were wonderful (I mean the real polish pianist who played them - I'd like to know more about him).
But anyway this movie is worse of watching, it's better that "The Schindler's list".

[tosca1]

There is a recent film which is called "La Pianiste" but is loosely translated into English as "The Piano Teacher" starring Isabelle Huppert.  This film shows the darkly disturbed, dysfunctional private life of woman piano professor at a conservatorium in Vienna.  There is much of Schubert's beautiful piano music played on some lovely Bösendorfers- and real ones too judging by the timbre of the piano sound.
It is a brutally frank and powerful film and not for the very young or squeamish.

[veimar]

There are 2 different movies - "The Pianist" (which is about jewish pianist surviving during the WWII) and "The Piano Teacher" (about a Vienna piano professor), so it seems to me you are talking about different movies.
I wouldn't recommend to watch "The Piano Teacher"...
Regards M.W.

[robert_henry]

I haven't seen "The Pianist" yet, but "The Piano Teacher" is a beautiful, yet disturbing film.  It is not for kids or even teenagers.  All subtlety would be lost on them.  Even some adults might have a problem with it...Patch Adams it is not (thankfully).

Robert Henry

[amp]

Robert-
How did you see "The Piano teacher"? Not a movie that is around. Seems interesting, where did you find it?

Thanks...

[tosca1]

Dear amp,
I saw " La Pianiste" or "The Piano Teacher" in Auckland at the cinema that shows "art house" films.

This film was released in 2001 and it is a French production distributed by Level 4 starring Isabelle Huppert.  

It is an explosively frank film with long, unrelenting scenes which reveal  the dysfunctional obsessions of a cold, severe professor of piano.

Good luck for finding it.
Robert.  

[robert_henry]

It was at Hollywood video.

Robert Henry

[ned]

I have decided not to see the Pianist.
Incidentally it strikes me that many movies that feature pianists or piano playing (other than stories of composers) center around some pretty dark, psychotic stuff. In addition to the ones above, remember "The Piano" or "Autumn Sonata."  On the other hand, "The Competition" was just silly.
I guess it would be too much to expect the commercial film industry to show the piano as we know it, as a magnificent source of spiritual power, joy and human greatness. And pianists as people dedicated to continuing a tradition of excellence and to sharing  music's rare beauties.  So pick up a Schirmer score and look at the motto "Dulce lenimen laborum" in the middle of the picture of the tree and lyre. Those words - "Sweet consolation of our labors" - are from Horace's Ode to the Lyre of Apollo, the Greek god of music and healing. How true they are.
Ned

[willcowskitz]

Rachmaninoff was a VERY dark person. Scriabin was psychotic. I'm not seeing this as something negative, just pianists being considered dramatic or romantic characters. That's a fancy picture. Equally fancy as the "godly" or bright (Mozart) side of piano. I like piano in itself, no matter what.  

[Colette]

Ned, I think you should see the pianist. It confirms all those very true insights you have about what the piano should mean to those who love it. To me, the pianist does showcase the piano as a source of power, joy and greatness---it's a movie about (among other things) how music can overcome odds, not create them.

[ned]

Colette: Thanks for the comment.  I'll see it! I know that concerts right after 9/11 were particularly emotional and uplifting.
Ned

[amee]

I'm debating whether or not to see that movie...what do you guys think?  Did you enjoy it, the ones who have seen it?

[tosca1]

I have not yet seen "The Pianist" but I intend to see it very soon as some discerning friends have described it as wonderful and much better than a film with a similar theme, "Schindler's List".
I believe that there is lots of beautiful piano music in this film which would make it a must for me apart from its powerful story line.
Robert.

[BoliverAllmon]

I plan on seeing the Pianist in the near future. I have seen many different piano movies and I have enjoyed them all. I do have to admit that some movies do portray pianists as quite emotional and dark.  I do know as a pianist that I can become quite dark and that the piano is the only release of the energy and feelings that I inside of me. I have other friends that play also and they are the same way. For example, Chopin's revolutionary etude is best played when upset. Music is very emotional and at times that can become dark. Happiness just doesn't seem to sell anymore in movies, so, hollywood just picks the dark stories.

Boliver

[chico]

i would looove to see the movie: "the legend of the ocean-pianist" coz the book is very touching and beautiful...
anyone saw this movie and at the same time - read the book?

[frederic]

I haven't seen the movie yet.
Some told me it is not really a piano movie, more a war movie. They also said there is not much piano playing in it.

[AvivS]

Some of the settings in the movie are very appropriate for Chopin's music, and generally enhance its effect.
It is ridiculous how the pianist continues to play miraculously after several years having not touched the piano!
Aside from this, the movie is nice, nothing special.

[jhon]

I have decided not to see the Pianist. Incidentally it strikes me that many movies that feature pianists or piano playing (other than stories of composers) center around some pretty dark, psychotic stuff...I guess it would be too much to expect the commercial film industry to show the piano as we know it, as a magnificent source of spiritual power, joy and human greatness...
Ned

The "psychotic trademark" associated among pianists have long existed since the advent of classical music and the piano instrument itself.  My own explanation for this is because in piano playing, there is a constant "interplay" between the pianist's sensual and spiritual realm and such "merge" of the two (whatever manifestations it may have) is something unusual for ordinary people who don't understand piano music in the first place.  This reality remains an irony (or paradox).

Some of the settings in the movie are very appropriate for Chopin's music, and generally enhance its effect.
It is ridiculous how the pianist continues to play miraculously after several years having not touched the piano!
Aside from this, the movie is nice, nothing special.

In real life, Wladyslaw Szpilman did not actually play the Ballade #1 (as depicted in the film); he played the Nocturne in C#m (posthumous) which is but easier. 

[Appenato]

The "psychotic trademark" associated among pianists have long existed since the advent of classical music and the piano instrument itself.  My own explanation for this is because in piano playing, there is a constant "interplay" between the pianist's sensual and spiritual realm and such "merge" of the two (whatever manifestations it may have) is something unusual for ordinary people who don't understand piano music in the first place.  This reality remains an irony (or paradox).

precisely. couldn't have said it better.

In real life, Wladyslaw Szpilman did not actually play the Ballade #1 (as depicted in the film); he played the Nocturne in C#m (posthumous) which is but easier. 

still haunting and beautiful nonetheless.

[gorbee natcase]

What is the music he plays to the german officer (I CANT PLACE IT)

[jason2711]

chopin's ballade in g minor

[gorbee natcase]

Thanks