The scene that almost brought tears to my eyes ( I say almost cause my dad was next to me and i thought it would be embarassing) and my heart sank was when the russians star shooting at Szpilman and with his last remaining piece of strength his shouts out "i'm polish" and they ask him why u wearing that coat and he says "I'm Cold". That entire scene i was like "dont shoot him please" in my head
share[deleted]
When Szpilman says to his sister "I wish I knew you better", and she simply says "thank you". Really hit me
-We've survived yet again-
-We've lost yet again-
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Right after the train left and he is walking down the abandoned street, full of luggage and people's belonging's. He' crying for the loss of his family, then it rains ashes, from the people on the train that were just burned.
shareI'm surprised no-one mentioned the scene in Wladek's second hiding place where the guy who took him in leaves and says, "be very quiet," after which Wladek sits down by the piano (and I'm all like, "nooooo, you idiot!" at that point) and plays some imaginary music. Absolutely haunting moment.
shareI actually love the scene where Wladek has just been pulled out of the crowd at the train station, and he's crying out for his family and his father sees him and simply waves. He knows where the rest of his family is going and is at least grateful that one of his children got out alive.
"The pilots have passed out drunk"
"Easy. I'd fly the plane"
Edward <3
The entire train station scene... I was almost in tears.
When he plays the piano for the German officer.
Near the end when he says "I'm cold"
Man what a gripping and powerful movie.
Definitely the scene between him and his sister, just the way she looks at him and says "thank you", it nearly got my allergies going
shareWhen Szpilman says to his sister "I wish I knew you better", and she simply says "thank you".
That was really moving because at that point they were walking toward their death.
Him crying walking down the street after his family is forced to get on the train.
Knowing that he would never see his family again, that scene would make any man cry, Szpilman probably cried uncontrollable when he had to write it in his book.
When he ask Dorota and her husband if he could have a piece of bread.
I want to feel sorry for the Hosenfeld but he was an officer and in charge of a Wehrmacht company and they weren't peace keepers, if anyone under his leadership, killed any innocent polish or Soviets, he would be held responsible, Depending on what or if they found any documents sign by him, I'm sure he would of been hang or sentence to life, if he was caught by the Americans, but there would of been time for Szpilman and others that he help would of testified that he save their life, and he could of been spared.
to Joekill:
Actually, Wilm Hosenfeld saved a lot of Jews and Polish people during the war. He was like a Wehrmacht version of Oscar Schindler. Sczpilman was not the only person he saved as it may transpire from the film.
Furthermore, Wehrmacht did take part in all possible brutalities carried out during the war but the majority of crimes was committed by German special detachments (Einsatzgruppen, Waffen SS etc.). It is now generally accepted that large part of German military was against that kind of things.
The exact same scenes have been in my mind for a few days now. An Artist myself, these exact scenes just killed me inside. So very powerful. This has brought a vivid change in how I see life.
I really have had almost sleepless nights for past days, just looking into the dawn- a miracle being alive is.
I didn't quite know where the family were heading too, but after I saw Spilman crying in the streets in the ashes. Then came an intense shock- Oh my, what have I just seen! A Masterpiece this film is.
The expressions, the coldness in the air- His face, drained of blood. So fragile- delicate.That moment in life- in history. So very humble, after the unthinkable events. His voice nearly coughs out- the words. Can he have some bread. That 'fleeting' moment- left an everlasting impression.
I think the scene where Hosenfeld spared him, brought supplies of bread for him to survive on, and gave him his coat was so moving. After all the violence that occurred, it really is a breath of fresh air to see someone who actually had a heart to help Szpilman.
And I teared when I read the ending part which said Hosenfeld died in the Soviet (am I right?) POW camp. That is just so sad. A man who doesn't deserve all that died. If only Szpilman got to the site where the German soldiers were kept hostage before moving them to the POW camp. Hosenfeld has gained my respect.
Nobody remarked this, but Captain Hosenfield told Spzilman not to thank him but to thank god instead. That line speaks volumes but it gives a deeper insight to how genuine the captain's intentions were. He helped someone without even leaving his name behind, and I hope detractors do not attribute this to hubris that he will somewhat escaped unscathed from all the atrocities committed by the germans. He in some way is trying to expiate the crimes of his people, but not his own crime. I have no doubt at all that he had no intention of taking an innocent life but only accept sacrifices on the battlefield. The way I see it, he asked about Spzilman's occupation to fully comprehend the true horrors and shame of the war and the destruction it has wrought on the commoners. He saw Spzilman's friend, a musician, as a godsend of some sort, and this time around it may be his destiny that god or some higher being wants him to survive through all this. This was a man guided by morals and principles, but whatever he gave, he got nothing in return. The Russian soldier subduing him will never know that the man he restrained was a man that will be capable of sparing a life of an utterly wounded, helpless and defenceless soldier. That scene to me was most memorable, the ugliest of human nature all poignantly shown in that one scene, that people fail to believe in the goodness of others and are blinded by their own aversion to help others. If there was an elaborate diary or memoir by survivors of this war, I will love to read Captain Hosenfield's. Without this scene, the ills of human nature could not have been adequately expressed. A really extraordinary film that puts humans to shame.
shareThe the kid got beat up under the wall while he tries to pull him... then tries to make him walk but the kid dies in his arm is really sad
"Thats a pickle no doubt about it"
the imaginary music does me in every time.
i watch a lot of war/history movies so im used to the bloodshed, the depressing moments, etc (not that im immune to struggle - thats WHY i watch them)
BUT
this scene kills me. the guys like "be very quiet" and he just ambles over to the blasted piano 30secs after the guy leaves and im screaming "no! what are you doing?!!!!" and then i hear the music and im like moaning in despair...then i see he's just doing it in his head.
i love how he's sorta quietly smiling, hearing the music in his head. its the only thing that kept him going.
after that scene i always thot that the rest of the score was bits and peices in his head y'know... like sure a scene is happening but the music i think is whatever he's "playing" at the moment wherever he is hiding. i dunno, thats just me.
It's hard to choose a particular scene in a film that is so laden with moving scenes that it makes the entire film a moving experience, but I'd go with the the entire train station scene, and the part immediately afterwards where he is walking through the deserted ghetto streets, wailing in despair.
shareThe scene with the little kid trying to crawl under the wall was very moving. It showed just how brutal war is, no one is spared. His bloodcurdling screams were absolutely heartbreaking, such a young boy...
Then there is the boy in the street amidst the walking crowd, cradling his dead father's head in his arms and crying 'papa?'.
The man on the wheelchair getting thrown off the balcony just because he was physically incapable of standing in the german officers' presence upon their order.
The division of the small piece of candy at the gathering.
The story of the mother who smothered her baby, trying to keep his voice down while Germans entered her home.
When the German officer repeatedly beats Szpilman for dropping the bricks while he lies on the ground, clinging to the officer's leg for mercy.
When he staggers out of hunger and asks the husband of her friend if he could have a piece of bread. I really felt for him in that scene.
When Szpilman's friend is lying on the ground and the German officer's handgun runs out of ammo just when he is about to shoot him. And the officer calmly takes out another clip and reloads and inevitably fires.
When Szpilman is asked to spend the night in a small compartment. The man says to him 'This is not going to be comfortable.' and he simply replies 'I'll be fine...'
Then there is the scene where he jumps out of the hospital window and hurts his leg and limps toward the wall to climb it, only to discover the devastating and destructive impact of the War on the city.
This movie was just...too disheartening for words, but inspiring as well because of Szpilman's will to keep living, even though he has no life and no family...
Truly a movie that will live through the ages, a record of the carnage of the 2nd World War
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Two scenes that nobody has mentioned here yet:
1. The scene where the soldiers make everyone pair up and dance.
2. The scene where Wladek's neighbor discovers him and tries to turn him in.
I was touched by the scene mentioned before, when Szpilman is playing the piano at the radio station at the end of the movie, and he has tears in his eyes and smiles.
For me one of the most moving parts was when Szpilman, having run to Dorota's house and met her husband, asks if he can have a piece of bread. Just the way he's so completely exhausted yet so humble really moved me.
oh man...well, the whole movie is kind of one big emotional slap in the face...but the scene that really did it for me (given that I myself am a pianist and a huge lover of Chopin), was the scene where he sits down and plays the Ballade #1 for the nazi soldier...that scene alone always gets me misty-eyed for the rest of the movie and then some
shareWhen Hosenfeld was begging Spzilman's friend to get Spzilman to save him... and then finding out later that he died on a POW camp. That was heartbreaking.
shareJust reading this thread is making me teary. The scene that destroyed me was the little boy being beaten when trying to get into the ghetto, and when Spielmann pulls him out he is limp and dead. Such a devastating scene.
Even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up! - Tobias Funke