Pianist

Top 5 themes

"Role self respect plays when an idividual responds to injustice"

The first scene that comes to mind within this theme is in the beginning, with Szpilman's father walking on the sidewalk with his armband (of the star of David) visible to the Nazi police. He gets struck by a policeman, and forced to walk in the gutter. This represents self respect because he shows constraint to react naturally, knowing if he does, he will potentially be killed. Another scene that creates this image is the scene in the piano bar, when Szpilman is forced to stop playing because the two Aryan men want to check their coins for fakes. His dignity could have been shattered, but he stops and waits politely, without causing a scene, knowing his limits. His ability to constrain allows him the keep his job for the time being, demonstrating self respect, and the respect for his family's well being while proving income. The final scene that represents this theme is when the Nazi police find Szpilman in the abandonned house in the old Jewish ghetto. He is told to play the piano, to prove his profession. He plays with grace and dignity, not only proving his respect, but also his determination to push away his fear. He sticks to his religion throughout the film, never cracking and pretending to be Aryan, proving his respect towards himself and his religion.



"The influence of ideals on an individual's behavior."

Technically, this theme is completely relevant to every scene in the film. The scenes I chose were the one's that arguably stuck out the most in my own opinion. The first is the mouvement into the Jewish ghetto. The family is forced into a way of life that was surrounded by anti-semistism, creating the image of "enemy" on all Jews alike. Their move is a representation of power over their people, and their response is fear, confusion and frustration. Another scene is when the entire Szpilman family is forced onto the cattle train towards the concentration camps; a train towards their death. Fortunately, Wladyslaw is saved by a Jewish officer (a friend of the family) allowing him to wander the empty ghetto alone. He walks along the murdered streets and weeps. This alone represents the theme to an extreme I could never relate to. The last scene that comes to mind is the scene where Szpilman is hiding outside of the ghetto in an apartment, and his plates shelf falls to the ground and shatters. His neighbour comes running, and screams to alert the building that he is a Jew. She is so brainwashed that Jews are the answer to all of society's problems, that she is dehumanized in the process.



"Personal Resourcefulness"

Wladyslaw is extremely resourceful in order to survive. The first scene is when he smuggles weapons in order to gain some money for food through potato sacks. He is able to smuggle in dozens of weapons for the Jews to rebel against the Nazi's if necessary. Another scene that represents the theme is when Wladyslaw plays dead on the street when the Nazi's are murdering the Jews. He lays face down, completely still, faking a shot wound and "dead". This way, he is not truly killed and he can save himself from the awful murder the Nazi's would have committed. The last scene that comes to mind is when he is living in the destroyed ghetto, in hiding, and he must find food. He finds a can of pickles after long searches, and finds numerous ways in order to open the can. In the end, he opens the can, but spills most of the juice, and uses personal resourcefulness to feed his everlasting hunger.

"The desire to escape"

The desire to escape is demonstrated endlessly throughout the film. Wladyslaw's family is forced into the Jewish ghetto, creating an enormous desire to escape the situation, shown in the scene of "where to hide the money". They have troubles finding a place to keep their valubles secure, yet they are forced to leave everything behind. Another scene would be when the family is forced onto the cattle trains towards the concentration camps. Wladyslaw says to his sister "I wish I knew you better", demonstrating a desire to escape the situation and live life normally, with a loving family to "get to know". People are pushing and screaming to get out of the trains. The last scene I noticed was at the very end of the film, where Wladyslaw exits the abbandonned ghetto in a German officer's jacket, yet he cries "DON'T SHOOT, I'M POLISH" demonstrating his immense desire to escape his hiding, back into the real world.

"Adaptation"

This theme is universal for the entire film, every scene. The first, and most obvious scene is when the newsletter comes in the mail and the Szpilman family must now wear the Star Of David visibly at all times. This requires adaptation the the Nazi rules, forcing them to loose all rights as people. Another scene is when the are forced into the ghetto. They must only have a certain amount of money and valubles, therefore adapting to a lower quality of life. The Nazi's take all their belongings, forcing them to adapt to the new circumstances. The final scene I chose was when Wladyslaw escapes the labour work station and goes to find his Aryan friend in the city. Hethen realizes that he must live in complete hiding from here until the end of the war. His life was in secret, proving his ability to adapt to any given situation.



Motifs

-The first motif present is the most obvious: music. The piano is Wladyslaw's passion and completely represents his purpose in life. In the first scene, when the studio is bombed, and he continues to play, Wladyslaw demonstrates his dedication to his music. This continues throughout the entire film, showing how important music is in terms of his personal survival. When he is hiding in the apartment outside of the ghetto, he plays overtop of the keys and listens in his mind, feeding his desire to hear the music again. Then, when he is forced to save his own life by playing for the German officer, he leaves the spectator speechless. He proves that his passion is his reason for survival and the only thing that keeps him motivated to live through these hard times.

-Another motif present is the motif of hope. The hope for a better life is repeated throughout all the hard (and harder) times. The Szpilman's decide on hiding their money in certain places in their home before moving to the ghetto because the feel hopeful on returning home. The are optimistic and determined to believe that God could not harm them any more than last time. This repeated hope represents more than religion, but returns to the first motif mentioned :music. Wladyslaw's hope to return to play freely again is his motivation. The sentiment of hope is universal within the Jewish community, continuously hoping for a better tomorrow.

-The last motif that I observed was that of family. When the Szpilman's must leave for the concentration camps in the cattle train, Wladyslaw's comment of "I wish I knew you better" to his sister represents his desire to feel love and continous interest in his family, knowing that he will lose them. Once he is saved, he walks in the empty ghetto and weeps, because he has said his last goodbye to his family. This is a continuous motivation for him, to survive to show his family's memories a better future. He proves that he can outlast the war, keeping his family name alive.


Top 5 scenes

- The scene where the Spilman family shares a caramel before boarding the cattle trains to the concentration camps. This is the last moment they have to share and value their family as one, and they'll soon be seperated forever. This is significant because the scene demonstrates the value they hold in one another, and the importance of family.

-The scene where Wladyslaw is alone and weeping in the empty ghetto. I've mentioned this scene multiple times because it had the most impact on me. I felt as if he was spiritually abandonned at this point. He feels the loss of his closest loved ones, and questions why he is saved. This is important because it is the scene that shows the murdered and destroyed ghetto, and the significance of each deseased Jew in the community.

- The scene where Wladyslaw tries to save the little boy who is being pulled under the wall by the German police. His back is broken for trying to take food to cease his neverending hunger, and Wladyslaw pulls and pulls to try and save him. Once he is free, the boy dies. This is significant because of the true brutality of the Nazi's and the inhuman ways they treat people.

-The scene where Wladyslaw plays piano for the first time in years for the Nazi. He playswith such passion and devotion to his music, and even after such a long period without his piano, he can still connect and feel the music. He saves his own life with the beautiful music he's been anticipating since he began hiding.

-The very last scene before the Russian's have taken over. Wladyslaw leaves his hiding place wearing a German officer's jacket, and almost loses his life to someone on his own side! It brings a sort of irony that he would survive all these awful incidents, and the one person that could save him almost kills him! Fortunately, he saves himself once again by explaing that he is Polish, and the jacket was only useful because he was cold. =)