Pianist, The (2002, GBR/FRA/GER/POL) C-148m. *** D: Roman Polanski. Starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Ravner. Acclaimed depiction of the Nazi invasion of Poland and the creation of a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, as seen through the eyes of the main character Brody, a pianist, whose survival throughout the terrors of war can be seen as a miracle. Impressive sets, good performances in war drama that marked Polanski's return to his own childhood. He won a Best Director Oscar for this work, so did Ronald Harwood for his screenplay (based on the real Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoirs).