The Pianist is definitely one of my favorite films that we have watched so far. Out of all the other films, this one had an overwhelming feeling of isolation. The two mediums through which we learn about Szpilman’s journey are from two different perspectives as well. I found the movie more effective, which I was even surprised by. One would think that Szpilman’s own words of his account would be more personal and effective, but I found that being able to observe him (&what he was going through) really depicted the struggle and pain of his experience. Around 1:06 in the film Szpilman is trying to escape the bombs, we as the audience hear nothing but ringing. This has the effect of putting us right there with him in that moment. This same effect took place more towards the end of the film when he is on the run and finds refuge for a short while in what appears to be an abandoned hospital. We see him sitting in a room pretending to play the piano. As the audience we hear what he hears in his head. At this point in the film there hasn’t been a lot of dialogue and the pace has slowed down. You begin to relate to his situation. His life seems stagnant but in another way forever changing. I do wish that Polanksi had addressed what happened to the rest of the Szpilman family. Szpilman himself in the book says that he too was unsure of their true fate but assumes that they were “exterminated” after last seeing them board the train. Addressing the question Professor McCay posed in the video lecture…How does Polanski’s personal life affect his ability to tell the truth through art? In many situations/circumstances, one finds themselves troubled with separating the person from their job. This can be said for any elected official, actors, priests, doctors, lawyers, judges, athletes, etc. Polanski’s rape trial without a doubt has affected the public’s view of his credibility, but it is also undeniable the fact that his film’s are noteworthy and well told. Polanski, as a survivor of the Holocaust, had/has an obligation to reveal the truth not only about the war but also about his own life mistakes. Even though the young girl said that the sex was consensual, he ultimately knew that it was wrong (as did the Nazis). I’m not saying that his actions are equivalent to that of the Nazis; rather I am trying to make both of their moral dilemmas similar in understanding them. Back to the role of the artist…I think that it is clearly evident that the German officer spared Szpilman, because he saw value/worth in his musical gift. As great as that was, that shouldn’t have been the sole purpose (that’s how it came off). First and foremost the officer should have wanted to spare his life because he was a human being. I did google Hosenfeld and found out that he saved numerous other Jews, but that he met his demise in a Soviet detention camp. Szpilman was saved because he was able to put something beautiful back into the world, music. By killing him, the officer would have been killing the art as well.
Angela, if this is the post you claim was not graded, it was not graded because it was not turned in on time. In fact, it was turned in after I graded both blogs and posts. I will give you five points for this post but nothing for any comments you might have made because they would have done the blogger no good. In future if you turn in work late, you will get no credit. It is time you learned that you are doing yourself no favors by trying to imply that I am in the wrong when you turn in work late.
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