The Pianist The film, "The Pianist," directed by Roman Ploanski is based on the true autobiographical book about the years of the Holocaust by the late Wladyslaw Szpilman, who is renowned for being one of the greatest concert pianists in the world. His story is one of occupation, great sadness, and ultimately, a story of survival and the ability of the human spirit to endure. The film gives overwhelming testimony to people's capacity for both …showed first 75 words of 765 total…

…showed last 75 words of 765 total…why the director chose to avoid straight shots. Perhaps angles intensify emotions or give it a surreal quality (because it is so tragic)? Roman Polanski shots were extremely graphic. The gore reminds the viewers that these horrors did happen to the Jews and should not happen to any race or religion. This film, along with its predecessors, "Schindler's List" and a number of other occupation films, serves remind us all about the horror of hatred.