Even though there are mixed feelings about the movie Pianist, the movie gets multiple messages across. Szpilman for instance, is portrayed as a cool heroic figure. Even though there is a difference between the historical figure and the one in the movie. He is portrayed as an extremely lucky individual. Szpilman in my opinion did absolutely nothing. He basically didn’t draw much attention to himself. He doesn’t brag, or expose himself too much that people draw concern to him. He is illustrated as an extremely reserved individual, in other words he is completely harmless. He does nothing! In the beginning his building is being blown up, but he continues to play the piano. Szpilman is kicked out of his home and continues to go with the flow. He just walks into the ghetto, and doesn’t really think about how he is imprisoned in the ghetto. He goes and plays the piano for money, but doesn’t even look into the future. It is as if he just lives each day one day at a time.
Although he does nothing, he is able to make friends all over. While doing nothing, people jump through hoops to accommodate for him. For instance one person gives him an inventory job instead of carrying bricks around because he cannot physically do it. If anything he gets by through connections. People who know very little about him come to his aid. They deliver him food, they give him fresh clothing, and they provide him shelter.
Szpilman then just hides and runs from one location to the next. He just observes what is going on. He watches men and woman getting killed. He observes the people he helped smuggle weapons and die after a long drawn out battle. He stays back and watches soldiers raid the streets. It gets to the point that he finally is forced back into the ghetto.
Throughout the movie it seems as if the character did so much, but honestly I saw Szpilman getting by because he was useless. Yes, he has the ability to play the piano a billion times better than anyone in the world, but other than that he does nothing. Although the articles state that the soldier who saved him actually saved others wasn’t a huge surprise. Just because the man can play the piano isn’t enough to convince a person who is driven completely by hate. If someone is going to risk their life in order to save another, they most likely will do it again.
I guess if anything the Pianist enables the viewer to see the tragedies that took place during the Holocaust from multiple perspectives. It shows what it was like being inside the ghetto, it showed what life was like to hide out during the war, and it showed how the repressed responded to the Nazi invasion in different ways.
Although he does nothing, he is able to make friends all over. While doing nothing, people jump through hoops to accommodate for him. For instance one person gives him an inventory job instead of carrying bricks around because he cannot physically do it. If anything he gets by through connections. People who know very little about him come to his aid. They deliver him food, they give him fresh clothing, and they provide him shelter.
Szpilman then just hides and runs from one location to the next. He just observes what is going on. He watches men and woman getting killed. He observes the people he helped smuggle weapons and die after a long drawn out battle. He stays back and watches soldiers raid the streets. It gets to the point that he finally is forced back into the ghetto.
Throughout the movie it seems as if the character did so much, but honestly I saw Szpilman getting by because he was useless. Yes, he has the ability to play the piano a billion times better than anyone in the world, but other than that he does nothing. Although the articles state that the soldier who saved him actually saved others wasn’t a huge surprise. Just because the man can play the piano isn’t enough to convince a person who is driven completely by hate. If someone is going to risk their life in order to save another, they most likely will do it again.
I guess if anything the Pianist enables the viewer to see the tragedies that took place during the Holocaust from multiple perspectives. It shows what it was like being inside the ghetto, it showed what life was like to hide out during the war, and it showed how the repressed responded to the Nazi invasion in different ways.
MILLER-COMMENT ON WEED'S BLOG ON SZPILMAN
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, I strongly disagree with your point that all Szpilman can do is play the piano. Szpilman has been honored many, many times for his actions during the Holocaust. You make this statement in your blog: “Just because the man can play the piano isn’t enough to convince a person who is driven completely by hate.” What would you say to the scene in the film where Hosenfield finds Szpilman, and demand that he play the piano? After he plays the piano, Hosenfield decides to spare Szpilman’s life. Keep in mind that Szpilman was a Nazi officer. He did more than just spare Szpilman’s life; he let Szpilman continue to hide in his attic, essentially guaranteeing his safety. When the Red Army was coming and Hosenfield was forced to flee, he gave Szpilman his army coat, increasing his chances of survival.
Just another perspective you may want to think about. :)
SHAW:
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I also have to disagree with your analysis of this film and the book. I understand what you're saying, that Szpilman was not being exceptionally proactive during the war and thus he was lucky to have survived. However, the story of the Holocaust is not always one of great triumph and heroism, with the unbelievable circumstances that victims of the Holocaust had to overcome, simply surviving is an act of defiance in itself. Hitler's entire intention was to exterminate both the lives and wills of anyone who defied his goals. The fact that Szpilman was even able to maintain a sense of purpose to continue fighting for his survival is a remarkable act. I think this is a major over-generalization of what even occurred in this story, and while not every Holocaust story deserves mass approval and respect, I think you might have missed the bigger point, the value of Szpilman's survival.