The Pianist is a biographical drama movie co-produced and directed in 2002 by Roman Polanski, scripted by Ronald Harwood, and starring Adrien Brody. The movie is based on the autobiographical book The Pianist, which tells memoir about World War II, by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Wladyslaw Szpilman. Check out the 10 interesting facts about The Pianist we compiled for you.
10. The movie was a co-production between Germany, France, Poland and the UK.
9. The film received significant critical praise and lots of nominations and awards.
The film won Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor. It also won the Palme d’Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and BAFTA Award for Best Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Direction in 2003, and seven French Cesars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Brody.
8. The Pianist is in BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.
7. Adrien Brody learned how to play the piano for his role in the movie.
6. It was hard for Adrien Brody to get used to his role in the movie.
To get used to his role and get the feeling, Adrien Brody moved out his apartment, sold his car, and didn’t watch TV for a while.
5. When the writer of the book 'The Pianist', Szpilman died, the movie was in pre-production.
4. The Pianist was Cyril Shaps’ last acting role.
He died on January 1, 2003, at the age of 79 after his acting role in the Pianist.
3. Daniel Szpilman, the real grandson of the writer of 'The Pianist', got a small part in the movie.
He plays the part of the boy in the ghetto, on the market place and later again on the Umschlagplatz.
2. Jurek’s voice is dubbed by Roman Polanski.
1. Adrien Brody became the youngest person who won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
He was just 29, when he won it.