Quote:
Originally Posted by Mongoose
Pianist was overly sentimental, he failed to avoid the usual traps that directors fall into when making films on that subject
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I dont think it was. Yes, I read reviews that were saying he has nothing new to say on the subject, but the I thought, that wasn't the point of the film. It was more about looking at the actions, and holding your hands up, showing that sort of atrocity, and offering the only explenation for such mass hysteria, and persecution..... no answer.
For me the point of the film shown how cruel, and inhumane people can be. How somebody's life, feelings can be completely discarded, and they're treated as less than animals. One of the most disturbing scenes was when German soldiers came into the getto, taking away the family on the top floor, and throwing the man in a wheelchair out of the window, as he's not needed. I thought it was a great film for showing this, and pushing the importance of tollerance, and understanding of people. Also, allowing people to live, and giving them that respect.
What the film also did by not seeking answeres to questions, was highlighted the dispair, and lack of understanding the the persecuted Jews had! When you see them being selected at random, told to lie down on the floor, as they shoot them in the head one by one, you just depair. There is no explenation, try getting into that mans head, how was he selecting them? This was such a powerful point for me.
Also, I think the sentimental element of the film was important. Pelanski lived through it, and wanted to relay his own experiances through a different story, I think he did this masterfully.
The film was a huge triumph, and I'm glad it's recieved the credit it deserves. It was only released on selected release over here, but after the first few months, and oscar nomination it got to general release. Art like that speaks for itself, and doesn't need the Hollywood glits to make it popular, or sucessful.