The Pianist - watch the video

The Pianist, director Roman Polanski’s Oscar winning World War II movie masterpiece starring Adrien Brody, will be released by Universal Studios Home Video to rent and buy on DVD and video this summer. This extraordinary dramatic tale of survival and triumph will be in rental stores throughout the UK from 21st July 2003 and to buy from 18th August 2003.

This highly anticipated release follows hot on the heels of The Pianist’s success at the Academy Awards where it received 3 Oscars - “Best Director” for Roman Polanski, “Best Actor” for Adrien Brody and “Best Adapted Screenplay” for Ronald Harwood.

The retail DVD features some fantastic extras on a two-disc collector’s DVD set, packed with unique additional footage. Disc two extras will include A Story of Survival, a specially created 40 minute documentary that offers the viewer an in-depth look at the production of the film as well as an intimate insight into Roman Polanski’s real-life survival during World War II. Other extras will be the international theatrical trailer, photo gallery and filmographies on Roman Polanski, Adrien Brody and Thomas Kretschmann.

Set in Warsaw, Poland, The Pianist is a testimony to the power of music, the will to live, and the courage to stand against evil, and is based on the true account of Polish Jew Wladyslaw Szpilman’s amazing survival through the brutal Nazi occupation of his country during World War II. A brilliant pianist, Szpilman is portrayed by Adrien Brody (Summer of Sam), whose sensitive and measured performance earned him the Best Actor gong at this year’s Oscars.

The supporting cast includes a host of stars – Thomas Kretschmann (Blade II, U-571), the legendary British actors Frank Finlay and Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner and Jessica Kate Meyer.

In addition to the three Oscars awarded to The Pianist it also won 2 BAFTAs, the coveted Palme D’or in 2002, a European Film Award and countless nominations in many more ceremonies.

A superb and moving tribute to those who lived under the oppression of the Nazis, The Pianist is not just the story of one man’s survival but a study of human nature under immense pressure, a study of loyalty, compassion and betrayal. We see Wladyslaw Szpilman survive the Warsaw ghetto, the loss of his friends and family and the eventual liberation of Warsaw by the Soviets.

Along the way he is aided and betrayed by the most unlikely people: the startling bond between Szpilman and the German Captain Wilm Hosenfeld is particularly poignant.

From the legendary and controversial director Roman Polanski (Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown), The Pianist is his most personal statement yet. At the age of seven he escaped the Krakow Ghetto through a hole in a barbed-wire fence. The Pianist marks the first time the director had made a movie in Poland in 40 years. “I survived the bombing of Warsaw and the Krackow Ghetto and I wanted to re-create those childhood visions,” Polanski notes. “It was also important for me to stick as close to the truth as possible and avoid Hollywood style make-believe.”

Out to rent on the 21st July 2003 and to buy on 18th August 2003, The Pianist is without doubt one of the most impressive and enthralling movies ever made – a must see.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

A Story of Survival (40 minutes)
International Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies on Roman Polanski, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann
Photo Gallery