Classical music – notably, that of Poland’s most beloved composer, Frederic Chopin – is vital to the mood, story and extraordinary hero in this inspiring film, based on the life of Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Szpilman was a renowned classical and jazz pianist and composer, working at the Polish Radio. Key excerpts from this powerful film chronicle his experiences throughout the war – three years in the ghetto and two more living in hiding in Warsaw – and his miraculous survival. Most of all, we will witness the vital role that music played in his resilience and courage.
“The life of a human being, let alone his personal freedom, is a matter of no importance. But the love of freedom is native to every human being and every nation, and cannot be suppressed in the long term.” W.S.