“The Pianist” (2002) follows Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist and composer, during World War II. The film opens with Szpilman performing on Polish radio just before the war begins. As Nazi Germany invades Poland, Szpilman and his family are forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, where they endure starvation and brutality. Despite these harsh conditions, Szpilman continues to play the piano, providing solace to those around him.

As the war progresses, Szpilman’s family is deported and killed, leaving him to fend for himself. He escapes the ghetto and moves between various hiding places in Warsaw, relying on the help of friends and the Polish resistance. His survival is marked by constant fear of discovery and struggle for food.

In a twist of fate, Szpilman receives unexpected aid from Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer who, recognizing Szpilman’s talent, helps him survive. The film portrays the devastation of Warsaw and the horrors of the Holocaust while highlighting Szpilman’s resilience and the small acts of humanity that provide hope amidst the despair.

As the war ends and Warsaw is liberated by Soviet forces, Szpilman is reunited with his surviving family and resumes his career as a pianist.