What made this so powerful was the fact that he was pretty certain the Nazi was going to kill him, so he performed it passionately as if it was going to be the last time he ever played anything. Him crying at the end signifies this.
This scene is so cinematically powerful. That can of food on the left represents life, and Hosenfeld's cap on the right represents death, and all that stands in between are 88 keys and it's up to Szpilman to save himself. The piano is literally between life and death.
No...Hosenfeld was merely calling him out for claiming to be a pianist, or he simply wanted to hear great music in the middle of the chaos. But not a trial for his life. You are either a killer or not, and Hosenfeld was not...
88 means H H... etc in nazi circles. This cap is just from a wehrmacht officer, not an ss cap. The normal german soldiers were mostly ok. They were forced as well and men/children of their time and place. But you see things clear
@@gertjanfaes2090 By hearing it😄 It sounds like most peoples' living room upright pianos. Like it had been tuned at some point, then not tended to again for many years.
1:22 His face really gives the emotion that he sees the pianist as a real person, someone who used to practice, someone who tried to make a living, someone who had a family to feed, but is now struggling to live while having no fault in the situation. It's sad to see people who just want to survive in life desperately try to survive in living. It's crazy to think how many talents were gone, all the brilliant minds and the creative souls wasted, all because of war and senseless violence.
I remember before this scene this guy was playing Fur Elise. He connected with him for love of music. Remember this song is hardest to play for pianist. So he admired his skill.
Isn't that terrible that many people like the pianist are now being murdered in their homes and killed in a war and being stopped from going to class just because they are Jewish! How can we love this scene and keep quiet when this is happening again at this very moment??
@@arturkajzar5625 I struggle with this question seemingly every second of my life. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to just be kind to one another and let others live as they choose. Yes society needs order to function and not everyone will agree on precisely what that means and the priorities that take hold. But the vitriol and hate of others….. I do truly wonder why any benign creator would set up the universe in this manner, where all but a handful of apex species die horribly and painfully in the teeth of a stronger predatory species.
We need war to win superiority in our world without it we wouldn't have a need for government, military, president. Either some nation rules the world or every nation is equal. We dont have the money for that or food. Also humans are just known to test competition and power, we are territorial just like animals
tony castillo god yes , we have no music in our lives , every home should have instruments , there should be live music everywhere , all of our activities should have music 🎶 not the canned , sound engineering of a keyboard & computer that creates the fake sound of instruments , but musicians & singers that make music
1:28 the moment everything became clear for this German officer. "How can we treat these people as subhuman?" His face says. "How can someone capable of producing such art be oppressed such as this?" God, what a brilliant film. Watched it in school as a kid and these scenes have stuck with me.
The expression you’re referencing is more attuned to 2:03 where the power dynamic shifts fully in the room for the time being and he sits in the manner of a child in awe.
But it seems to me he was thinking: How we, a great and cultured nation, led the world to the fact that so talented pianist turn into driven animal on the brink of survival?
This single scene was the inspiration for me to take up piano lessons at the age of 37 after years of thinking about it, and I have been playing on-and-off for 17 years since then, and can play some of Chopin's nocturnes & preludes (and the funeral march of course), but haven't yet tackled this magnificent Ballade . I haven't had the courage & commitment but someday :-) I would say to anyone thinking about taking piano lessons -go for it! You're never too old and youtube is a wonderful reference for piano classic tutorials.
I also didn’t have the courage and commitment to play Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 by Franz Liszt. I thought for years it would be out my ability until a few months ago at a very low point, I started learning out of curiosity. It’s often pieces like these that seem out of reach but it’s fear keeping us from playing them. I hope after reading this comment, you log off, acquire the sheet music, and start playing this song friend.
me too .I learnt piano at 37years of age and play some nocturne and not able to play this piece completely,now I am 56 still have the passion for the music I love
Thank you for your comment. I'm 24 years old and I have never played the piano in my life. The idea of learning how to play it has been in my head for a while now, but I was afraid and felt a bit ridiculous because I thought I was "too old" for it. Your comment has convinced me to go for it! Do you happen to have any recommendations for beginners? 😊
I just love the officer's reaction to his playing. I feel as if he doesn't really believe the other man's ability to play the piano at the beginning. But then as the other starts playing, there is that look in his eyes, which, the way I see it, means: " What are we really doing?"
That is exactly what I have always thought about this scene.. he seemed to assume Spillman was trying to get away with a lie at first, but then quickly realized he was telling the truth.. anyway, as others stated in the comments, he wouldn't have harmed him no matter what Spillman gave as an answer..
Exactly. Near the end, he really did think "What was all this good for?". So many millions people, each with their own stories and talents, dead. For nothing.
@@tigranbok1716 I must just disagree with you on the "stupid German" part. I can tell you that German people are extremely intelligent, I have one staying with me for 3 months every year and there is virtually nothing that he cant do or fix. Yes some people may not be "cultural" but you get that in every nation
The officer here was Wilm Hosenfeld. He was a kind man with a large heart who always detested Nazi treatment of Jews and the Polish. He helped many Polish and Jewish people during his time as a German officer risking his own life by betraying Nazi orders. Unfortunately he died in a Soviet labor camp. The pianist tried really hard to get him free by having him and other Jewish people who the officer helped save testify his deeds to Soviet officials but they didn't care.
So sad Wilm Hosenfeld died in Soviet camp despied Szpilman and many trying to save him. His wife even wrote a letter to the officers. Another prisoner who was given a false identity by him also tried to help, but it was no use. At least he is being recognize today as righteous among the nations. ❤❤❤❤❤
Having only a year or so listening to classical music in depth, was hoping someone would name the piece and composer. Since the poster couldn't be bothered.
In this Chopin's Ballade you can find everything. Sadness, Joy, Anger, peace... There would not be Wars at all if just pieces of this music were in all hearts
that scene absolutely moved my soul... i could not stop my tears i was crying while watching this scene... this germany soldier was the real human that appreciated this pianist and saved him
@@GermanLehmann98 I literally started the piano for this piece, 10 month ago. I spent 2-3h the week and 3-5h the week end. Took me 3 month to play/learn the 3 first part, and the last part took me so much more time to play correctly. It was hard but with determination everything is possible.
@@brainrich1358 He tried and beg the Soviet soldiers, but they didn't listen. Others did the same. I still don't understand why they didn't let him out.
" why did he skip the middle part? " Well, this is a sad movie and the middle part sounds happy so adding the middle part would destroy the sad theme in this part lels
Classic music is timeless; it awakes the same emotions in all of us no matter who we are and of which side of the playing field we’re are. I’m German, and I grew-up only listening to classic music; became a classic singer-soprano. My dad also was an officer in Hitler’s Germany-this actor reminds me of my dad..and every time I see this screen, I see my father-He was a good man and I loved him dearly.
Holy hell. This scene is beautiful on its own, but in the context of the movie it’s so much more powerful. To watch him slowly descend into this life he has to live, and everything just keeps getting worse in gradual steps. And you sort of get used to it and adjust to it just like his character does as the movie goes on. Then you get this scene that gut punches you with a reminder of who he was at the beginning of the movie and how far he’s fallen. Cue the tears.
Chopin's melancholia that accompanied him throughout his life in France was always about love for his beloved Poland. A country that always seemed to be in the path of conquering powers. This Ballade captures the innermost Chopin and how poetic that the symbolism of this work captures the absurdity of conquering powers and hate that still dominates our world. I revere Chopin and the fact that his music is still relevant today speaks volumes about the power of music and in spite of it all, music still and will always transcend the darkest aspects of Humanity.
Well stated! Do you know which Chopin ballade was performed? And did the performance in the film follow truthfully to the Chopin, or was there an embellishment toward the end of the piece? When I watched the film, I thought that perhaps this was Szpilman's original music in this scene.
@@OneWhoLivesThere Ballade number one is the one in question. The Ballad was shortened for the film, but in my opinion, it should have been left in its totality in the film. As far as who played it in the film, I'm not sure if it was Mr. Szpilman's.
I can't believe that only ONE other person who has watched this incredible video knows the Chopin piece being played; so, without further ado, it's his Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 (composed in 1835, after his move to Paris from a lengthy stay in Vienna. Robert Schumann first heard the piece in 1836 and said (to Chopin himself!) that he thought the piece "the best and most ingenious of all your compositions." After a lengthy pause, Chopin replied, "I am very happy to hear this since I too like it very much and hold it very close to my heart." I think we may all agree that we hold Chopin's Ballades (and Nocturnes, Scherzi, Preludes and Etudes) very close to our hearts as well. How much of today's music will move future generations even remotely as much as this 185-year-old masterpiece? I prophesy, with all possible assurance: NOT MANY! Mike D.
I would like to add to the very insightful comments on this film moment. It says all the above that’s been said but the piece actually captures in music the whole madness of War.
I’m glad movies like this are made so we never forget our history and so that hopefully we won’t repeat it. The acting was so good in this movie. It’s always painful to watch but absolutely loved this scene and cried watching it!
In reality, Wladyslaw couldn't be more fortunate to encounter this particular German officer, as the officer in question is Wilhelm Hosenfeld. A high-ranking Wehrmacht captain who--unlike his peers--dedicated his life to help the Poles, the Jews, and other "enemies of the state" instead of persecuting or straight up executing them. Had it been any other Nazi, he'd have been shot on the spot. After the war, Captain Hosenfeld was captured by the Red Army, and such a selfless hero, comparable to the likes of Oskar Schindler, painfully died in Soviet captivity in 1952. He is now amongst the "Righteous Among The Nations", a honorific title given by Israel to non-Jews who risked their lives to save those who were from extermination during the Holocaust.
Amazing scene. Amazing actor who played the german officer. You can actually see his inner turmoil and empathy, realising everything hes been standing for is wrong. "How could we kill people with such beautiful souls?" The question he will be asking himself as he sits in awe of the beauty infront of him. His world changed that day, everything he thought he stood for came crashing down infront of his own eyes.
@@NavidIsANoob the majority had no choice as the army was compalsory! So you can be sure that there were many who did not follow the official narrativ! There where times when the SS and the police went to schools, universities and families to get every "man" available. Most of them never had any army training, that's why so many of those young men died.
it took me 10 years since I started piano and watched this movie (I was 22, now im 32), but finally I approached this piece one year ago and can play ballade no. 1 now fluently and at tempo
William Peng this is so true.I had benn homeless for a while, and went into a church service being set up for service and an old piano was leaning against the wall.I asked could I play it while they set up,they told me yes.I sat down with my cold pink fingers and started playing.The pastor walked in the door and heard me.He asked did I have a place to stay, I told him No..the Pastor said You do now.I was taken to a sober recovery house for women after the church service😊
Such a remarkable way to express yourself , i always felt like piano was the way of the gentlemen so to speak , an amazing ability to tell a story , full of images and emotions without even open your mouth ! Music knows no age , no religion , no boundaries , no skin colors , no genders , it's universal and piano is one of the most complete instruments , whoever knows to play piano has access to any type of music . That movie was wonderful !
Языки между людьми смешать не стоило труда, а вот язык музыки смешать не удалось. Великий Шопен явился в мир в единственном числе и никто и никогда его не повторит! Спасибо за клип.
One of my favorite movies. I always wanted to learn how to play the piano. Its beautiful. When the German officer found him. You could tell he rethought everything after hearing him play. The German officer looked comforted in hearing the music.
Absolutely breathtaking scene in the movie. Chopin is my favorite composer, so I was spellbound just listening to this outstanding performance. 🎶🎹❤️🙍♀️
Brian Connelly if my life depended on it that would make it worse and I would 100% freeze up. Even just playing in front of my piano teacher makes me play worse than at home .
La música más sublime y el drama que deben de haber padecido maravillosas personas como éste personaje tan magistralmente interpretado- No me canso de oirlo
@Rusalka When you feel like you're about to die, your adrenaline rushes and you start remembering more from to past seeking ways to live. Believe it or not, this *actually happened*
