Film Analysis Of The Film The Pianist

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For some people, it seems that the Holocaust was just a rumor, but for others it is a nightmare that will never be forgotten. The film, The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski, is based on a true story about a Polish Jew pianist named Wladyslaw Szpilman who struggled to survive the destructions of World War II in Warsaw. Szpilman and his family suffered from strict restrictions under the Nazi occupation that forced out of their homes and into ghettos and concentration camps. Eventually, Szpilman escaped and hid in various parts of the city until the war was over. The director uses a mixture of cinematic and theatrical elements in order to show the hardships, dehumanization, and degradation of the Jewish people who suffered through the Holocaust. …show more content…

While Wladyslaw and his family were eating dinner, they heard a truck pull over outside the building. Everyone started to turn their lights off which created low key lights. This represents that the family is afraid of the soldiers. It also created suspense because the family was wondering why they were here (scene 20). In scene 21, Wladyslaw is playing the piano in a restaurant in order to make money. The director uses front/back lighting which gave an innocent look on Wladyslaw. Playing the piano is the only thing Wladyslaw has to let his mind escape the dangers in the city. In scene 29, Wladyslaw, his family, and many others were put in a camp. This scene consisted of bottom/side lighting which represents that something evil or dangerous is going to happen. The soldiers told the people to get out of the camp and line up. They picked a few people to step forward and killed them.
Polanski also uses theatrical elements in order to bring the struggles of the Holocaust to life. An example of these elements is the setting. The beginning of the film shows that the film took place in Warsaw during World War II. Another example of a setting is scene 30 which is the ghetto that the Jews were put in. This is also the place where they were forced onto a train to a different

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