A Chopin Nocturne
Distant explosion
Detonation close by
Panicked screams
Mr. Szpilman ? Hello..
l've come here specially to see you.
Who are you ? My name is Dorota.
Jurek's sister..
You're wounded ?
No, it's nothing. - Come Dorota.
You'll express your admiration another time.
Why didn't you tell me about her ?
- What should l take ? - You always take...
..too many things..
How many suit cases are you taking ?
Should l take Uncle Szymon's portrait ?
Siren Do what you want.
l am terribly worried.
He'll come back, don't worry..
- We need another suitcase... Mother, Wladek is back.
Thank God, Wladek !
You're wounded ! Just a scratch.
l was worried. - l reassured her.
lf you had been hit, your body would be sent here.
Laughter Don't say such things !
- l can't find anything ! God forbid.
Wladek is here. l told you so.
What are you doing ? What do you think ?
l don't know. The station was bombed.
Radio Warsaw isn't the only station.
Go pack your things.
Where are we going ? Leaving Warsaw..
Going where ? You haven't heard ?
What ? lt's in the newspaper.
Where's the paper ?
l used it to pack.
Oh no ! The government's going to Lublin.
All able-bodied men must join the defense forces.
All the men in the building, have already left.
You think you can join the defense efforts..
..lugging your suitcases ?
Pack your things. l'm not leaving.
So l'll stay too.
- We must stay together.
lf we must die, l want to die at home.
God forbid.
Be quiet.
*The BBC informs us that..
..the British government, having received no reply..
..to its ultimatum to the German government,..
..has declared war on Nazi Germany.
Oh, good news, it's wonderful !
Static
*Speech in German
Static
*France should soon make a similar declaration.
Thank God ! *Poland is no longer alone !
Oh, oh !
*Solemn air
Wonderful, wonderful !
Mother, your dinner was delicious.
Yes, excellent.
That kind of news deserves some effort.
To Great Britain and to France !
Didn't l tell you ?
Everything will be fine.
That makes 5,003.
Huh ? What, that's all ? Yes.
lt's all we have left.
3,003 zlotys too much.
Listen to this.
''New restrictions on cash :
''Jews cannot keep more than 2,000 zlotys.
What do we do with the rest ?
We deposit it in a frozen account.
Who'd be dumb enough to give his money
..to a German bank ?
We could hide it. Here, look.
Under the flower pot. - No.
We'll use a safer way.
During the last war,..
..we hid money in the table leg.
And if they take the table ?
What ?
They take anything they want. ls that true ?
What would they do with this table ?
What are you doing ? No, look.
Here's the best hiding place.
Under the flower pot.
Wait, l have an idea.
That's, new. We'll use..
..psychology. What ?
We leave..
..everything on the table, with this on top.
Very conspicuous.
Laughter
That's stupid.
No one will notice it.
The most idiotic idea.
Of course they'll notice it.
Hey, watch this.
ldiot ! Henryk laughs
And l'm stupid ?
That's good.
Takes too long !
We're not in a hurry.
No, it won't.
How will you remove them ?
With tweezers. What's wrong ?
One by one ? - Quiet !
No one listens to me.
l beg you, please be quiet !
The lawyer needs silence.
The watch under the flowers and the money in the violin.
Clock chimes
But...
Will l still be able to play ?
You'll see.
Jurek ? This is Wladek Szpilman.
*Wladek ? How are you ?
We're fine, thank you, and you ?
Fine, given the circumstances.
l know why you are calling.
They won't reopen the radio station.
l know, but... There's be nothing more for the Poles.
l know. You'll find work.
A pianist like you....
Maybe, maybe not.
l'm not calling to discuss my career.
l've been begging Jurek for weeks.
Yesterday he said : ''Okay, come tomorrow.''
l came and... the station was bombed.
Meeting you that way was wonderful.
Really. Yes.
For me, it was unforgettable.
l like to listen to you Mr. Szpilman.
Wladek. No one plays Chopin the way you do.
ls that a compliment ? Of course.
You never know. l'm joking.
Want to go to Paradiso ? l'd be delighted.
What do you do ? l studied at the Academy of Music.
You're a musician ? Barely a beginner.
What do you play ? The cello.
l love to see a woman playing a cello.
Let's go on.
NO JEWS ALLOWED
How dreadful ! How do they dare ?
They want to be better Nazis than Hitler.
l'm going to complain. Don't.
Better not.
lt's humiliating for a man like you.
We'll go elsewhere. We can walk in the park.
No we can't, new official decree :
''No Jews allowed in the park''.
You're joking ? No, l'd suggest..
..sitting on a bench but another decree forbids that.
lt's absurd. Here's what we'll do :
Stay here and talk.
We can do that, can't we ?
So you play the cello, that's good.
Your favorite composer ? Chopin ? My, my.
You must learn his cello sonata.
And you, Wladek ? l could accompany you.
Me on the piano and you on cello.
Mr. Szpilman, you are really wonderful.
Call me Wladek, please.
''Wearing of armbands by Jews in Warsaw.''
''l order that all Jews in Warsaw..
''..wear clearly visible emblems.
''This decree will be enforced as of December 1 , 1939..
''..applies to all Jews over the age of 12.
''The armband worn on the right arm will represent..
''..a blue star of David on a white background.
''The background must be large enough so that..
''..a star's diameter measures 8 cm.
''The base of the points must be 1 cm.
''Any Jew not abiding by this decree..
''..will be severely punished.
''The Governor of the district of Warsaw..
''..Doctor Fischer.''
l will not wear it. l refuse to be branded.
Give that to me.
We have to supply these armbands ourselves ?
Where will be get them ? We won't get them.
We will not wear these armbands.
Streetcar bells
You !
Come here.
Why didn't you salute ?
l beg your pardon.
You're not allowed on the sidewalk.
Get in the gutter !
Did you see that ? What ? l'm working.
What ?
What's that ?
That's where they're putting us.
What do you mean ?
''By order of the Governor of the district of Warsaw..
''..a Jewish neighborhood will be created..
''..in which all Jews living in Warsaw..
''..will be obliged to live.''
And that : ''Jews living..
''..outside the designated area..
''..will move there no later than October 31 ,1940.''
lt's too small, there are 400 000 Jews in Warsaw.
360 000 to be exact, it will be easier.
- What can l do ?
What will l be able to buy ?
Mother.
Sobs
Mother, what's wrong ?
- 20 zlotys.
That's all we have left.
What can l buy with 20 zlotys ?
l'm tired of cooking..
..only potatoes.
That's the price.
Take it, no one will offer you any more.
lt's a Bechstein. 2,000 zlotys.
Better take it.
What will you do when you're hungry ?
Get out, dirty thief ! Watch it !
Stop ! Get out of here !
What's wrong with you ?
You are all crazy.
l'm doing you a favor..
..2,000 and l won't even deduct moving costs !
You must..
.. be hungry, you are crazy. Take it.
Dorota.
Hello.
l didn't want to come but...
l didn't want to see all this...
l could not help myself.
How are you ? Fine.
Good.
No, not really.
They arrested my cousin.
Jurek says they will free him but...
lt's outrageous, really.
lt won't last.
That's what l said, it's too...
lt's too absurd.
Er, l...
l must...
OK, see you later.
Soon.
Goodbye.
Well... to be honest...
l expected worse.
Where will we sleep ?
The girls and l in the kitchen.
You, Henryk and Papa, here.
Look.
Come see.
Theme song
Hubbub
Go away, go !
Papa !
Papa ! Papa !
Papa...
Papa !
Hubbub
Sell any ? Only one.
Dostoievsky, ''The ldiot'', 3 zlotys.
Better than yesterday. 3 measly zlotys.
Some here are making millions.
l know. You know nothing, believe me.
They bribe the guards to close their eyes..
They bring in food, tobacco,..
..liqueurs, beauty products.
They dont mind people dying around them.
You haven't seen my husband, lsaac Szerman ?
A tall man... l'm sorry.
With a gray beard ? No.
Pardon me.
Goodbye.
Sleep well.
lf you see him, please write me.
lzaac Szerman.
Streetcar bells
Klezmer music
Why is there a goyim street..
..that crosses our neighborhood ?
Don't worry, they're going to build a bridge.
A bridge ? What jerks !
And the German think they're intelligent.
l think they are total idiots.
My family is hungry.
And l have to wait until they let me pass.
l didn't come to listen to music !
( German)
What's wrong with you ?
You have to move, go ahead.
Go ahead, dance !
Do it, dance !
Go ahead, come !
Yes, that's good.
You too, go ahead !
Clear the street
so the Jews can dance.
Klezmer music
Whistle blowing
Here they are.
Mr. Heller is waiting for you.
What's up ? Sit down.
We'll have lunch when the girls arrive.
Why are you here ?
- He brought pastries.
His father is making jewelry and doing well, no ?
Yes.
Jewelry shop, that's amazing.
We are hiring. Who is hiring ?
Don't be clever, l'm here as a friend.
Jews are arriving from all over Poland.
So many people we need more Jewish police.
More Jewish policemen ?
You want me to club Jews like the Gestapo ?
Some one has to do it. Why me ?
l thought that you hired rich people.
Look at us, we're not...
l came so your life could be better.
You want to continue to fight..
..to survive ? Yes, thank you.
l came to do you a favor.
Wladek, our jazz orchestra would welcome you..
..with open arms.
You don't have a job. Thanks, but l do.
Cheerful tune
Sorry, he wants you to stop.
Who wants me to stop ?
The coins are fakes.
Barking
Look at the good side.
You're in the small ghetto with intellectuals.
The big ghetto is a cesspool.
Give me something to do.
Your playing improves the people's morale, it's enough.
l want to help. You're too well known, Wladek.
And musicians don't make good conspirators.
You are too... too... musical !
Laughter
Stone against the window
Who's that ?
Symche ? Majorek.
- They're putting up posters.
We'll clean up the city. - Who cares about posters.
Hello Symche.
Dolek.
Mrs. Zyskind.
Jehuda, you work hard.
Here's the greatest pianist in Poland, maybe in the world.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, this is Majorek.
How do you do ? l know your name.
Not your music.
- Majorek was a soldier.
A brilliant man, just one failing :
Not a socialist.
Laughter
You should leave, it's almost curfew time..
You know what our press run is ?
500 copies.
Each copy is read by approximately 20 people.
That means 10 000 readers.
Enough to set off the revolt.
Majorek leaves them in bathrooms.
ln bathrooms ?
When l find them.
The Germans think we're too clean.
Laughter
Please, a piece of bread.
Sir, a zloty.
Someone whistles
( German)
Child crying
Cries and blows
Stop ! Stop !
Stop !
Blows
Come, come !
( German) Come !
Get up, get up !
Get up !
Get up.
Barking
Tonight we will not speak..
..about sad things.
Let's eat heartily. Agreed.
Ever heard anyone speak of Dr. Raszeja ?
The surgeon ? Yes.
Strangely, they let him enter..
..the ghetto to do an operation. On a Jew ?
A Polish surgeon ? He was allowed in.
That's all l know.
He anesthetizes the patient and starts operating.
The SS burst in..
..kill the patient, the doctor and everyone around them.
lsn't that funny ?
The patient felt nothing.
l said nothing sad.
What's wrong ? Where's your sense of humor ?
lt doesn't make me laugh.
You, your ridiculous tie makes me laugh.
Why talk to me about my tie ?
l wear it to work. Oh yeah !
Yes.
You play for all the parasites in the ghetto.
Parasites ?
- Parasites ! Boys !
They don't care at all.
You blame me for their apathy ?
They ignore everything. lt's the Americans' fault.
For what ?
There are lots of Jews in America.
What have they done for us ?
People are dying here.
Others are starving.
Jewish bankers should convince America to go to war.
Screeching tires
A truck driving up
Truck doors slamming
The lights !
( German)
Banging on the door
lmploring woman
She screams. Sh, Sh !
My God ! Sh, l beg you !
Sobs
( German)
Shooting
Truck doors slamming
Screams
Sobs
Cheerful tune
Matches.
l am Mr. Szpilman's sister. Come in.
Not you !
What's happening ?
lt's horrible. What ?
They're chasing people in the street.
They took Henryk away.
Go home, l'll take care of it.
Bread, have mercy.
l haven't eaten all day.
- Children, go beg somewhere else.
Excuse me.
Have you seen my husband ?
l'm sorry. A tall man,..
..with a gray beard.
lf you see him, write to me. lzaak Szerman !
Screams and whistles blowing
What happened ?
The took away my grandson.
They take people away, what will they do to them !
l don't believe in God now.
Excuse me.
Excuse me !
Yitzchak !
lt's Wladek Szpilman.
Over here !
Henryk is there.
l didn't see him. He was arrested.
l'm not lying. Bad luck.
The man groans.
What can you do ?
Ah, now you need me !
Help us.
That's expensive.
l can pay.
You should have worked with us.
They say you're very influential.
Who said that ? People.
They say you're an important man.
Yitzchak !
- Over here !
Screams and whistles blowing
(Hebrew)
( German)
Bandits ! Bang, bang ! Kaput !
( German)
She screams.
She sobs.
Why did they pick you up ?
You went to see Yitschak ?
Did l ask you to go see him ?
You're free, no ! You begged him ?
You grovelled ? l asked him for his help.
How much did you pay ?
What would l have used ?
Everything l earn goes for food.
l can make it on my own.
They would have deported you. lt's me they were after.
lt's my problem, not yours.
You're crazy, that's your problem.
That's none of your business !
Streetcar bells
Hey. Hey. What's wrong with you ?
Are you sick ?
l'm hungry.
Mr. Szpilman.
A job contract ? What do you mean ?
What contract ? lt's required.
From a German firm, otherwise...
Otherwise what ? We'll be deported.
So, the rumors are true.
They'll deport us.
To work camps, in the East.
The little ghetto is closing.
My God.
A woman sobbing
Wladek ! Wladek !
l thought you were on tour in London, Paris, Chicago !
Not this week. You look awful.
Know what they're saying ? What ?
We'll be deported to the East. Just rumors !
What's wrong ? l don't have..
..a job contract for my father.
l got them for everyone, except my father.
l went to companies...
Why didn't you ask me ?
You do job contracts ? Not me, Majorek.
But l have no money...
Don't insult me !
Can you help him ? Come to Schultz's tomorrow at 4 PM.
- lt's your lucky day.
Luck during battle is an historical imperative.
You must always look at... The positive side.
How's your back ?
Better. Better ?
Better not ask.
Laughter
Thank you.
lt won't be of much use for you.
He laughs.
- Thank you, Mr. Schultz.
Theme song
Streetcar bells
At least, we're working in the ghetto.
And we are together.
Shot and screams
( German)
Crashing noises
( German)
Everbody outside ! ln the courtyard !
We have jobs and work contracts.
Oh, Wladek !
( German)
Du!
Everyone else, get dressed and come back here.
Bring your belongings. 1 5 kilos maximum.
Where will you take us ?
A baby crying
( German)
l am sorry.
l did my best.
Please.
Let's hope Henryk and Halina fare better.
( Orders in German)
Forward.
Where are we going ? To work.
You'll be better off than in this foul ghetto.
Forward.
Why did l do it ? Why did l do it ?
Why ?
Why did l do it ?
Stop... Stop !
Do you have a little water ?
He's dying, dying of thirst.
l am sorry. l beg you.
A little water.
l beg you. - Do you hear me ?
lt's shameful !
l heard you. We're letting them kill us.
Not so loud. Let's attack them.
We're half a million, we could escape.
At least, we would die honorably.
How can you be sure of their plans.
They haven't said so, but they will exterminate us all.
You want me to fight ? For that we need a plan..
..weapons. l should fight with my bow ?
- We represent a work force.
They'll send us to work. Yeah ?
Look at that cripple, these old folks, children,..
..will they work ?
And you, can you carry iron beams ?
Trucks pull in.
Hubbub
Henryk ! Halina ! Henryk !
Halina ! Henryk !
We knew you were here.
We wanted to be with you.
Sobs
We wanted to be with you.
How stupid ! How stupid !
Why did l do it ?
Why ? She's getting on my nerves.
Why did l do it ?
For God's sake, what did she do ?
She smothered her baby.
- Why ? They had planned..
..a place to hide.
The baby cried when the police went by.
She wanted to muffle the tears, the baby died.
A policeman heard the groans.
Screams
Little girl crying
What are you reading ?
''lf you prick us, do we not bleed ?
''lf you tickle us, do we not laugh ?
''lf you poison us, do we not die ?
''And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge.''
Very apt. That's why l brought it.
Theme song
Crying and hubbub
What will he do with this money ?
Come here, kid.
Come over here.
Come.
How much for a caramel ? 20 zlotys.
What will you do with the money ? 20 zlotys.
Among us, we must have that.
l have 10 zlotys, l think.
5, 10, 20.
Why did l do it ?
Train whistle
Halina. What ?
Strange time to say this...
What ? l wish l had known you better.
Thank you.
( German)
Szpilman.
Szpilman !
Get out of here, idiot !
Papa, papa !
Papa !
Halina ! Mother !
What are you doing ? l saved your life !
Get out ! Go away !
Don't run !
Mother !
Mother ! Mother !
( German)
- The brunette, get back !
They're off to be recycled.
Ja.
( German)
Screams
She's pregnant !
Screams and hubbub
Train whistle
Sobs
Theme song
Wladek !
Why are you here ?
Because.
l... We...
We...
All...
All of them...
Maybe it's better, at least it won't drag on.
We will stay here a few days.
l paid a policeman, he'll come when it's over.
( German)
l haven't been outdoors for 2 years.
Don't rejoice too quickly.
Market hubbub
lt's gold.
At a good price.
Someone you know ?
Yes. Beautiful. Who is she ?
A singer.
l knew her very well, her husband's an actor.
Good people.
l'd like to talk to her. People are hanged..
..for helping Jews.
( German)
Du!
Du! Du!
Du!
Hinlegen!
( German)
Someone whistles.
( German)
Whistle blows
How long you've been here ? Since last night.
l'm glad to see you. Yes.
They're reassigning us permanently.
You know what that means.
They sent someone.
Zygmunt, a good man.
He had orders to follow trains.
When he got to Sokolow.
There were two sets of tracks.
One going to Treblinka.
Every day, freight trains bring people..
..to Treblinka and come back empty.
No food is being transported.
And no civilians are allowed in Treblinka.
They're exterminating us.
lt won't take them long.
Only 60 000 of us left.
There were half a million of us.
Lots of us are young.
This time, we will fight.
We are in good shape.
Organized.
We are ready. lf you need me...
The whistle blows.
You, come over here !
Excuse me.
Forgive me.
l beg you ! No ! No...
Get rid of him.
l hope you're better at the piano.
He won't last long.
l'll look for something better.
A whistle
Problems.
Line up ! Just the Jews !
The Poles can go on working.
Just the Jews.
l have good news.
Rumor has it..
umsiedeln
..reassign all of you.
l promise all of you..
..that now and for the future..
..that's not part of our plans.
Ja?
That is why..
..there are posters on the walls,..
..to show our good intentions.
Your voting, will give one of you the right..
..to go to town every day..
..and bring back 3 kilos..
Kartoffeln
And also a loaf of bread for each worker.
So, why would we do all that,..
..if we wanted to reassign you ?
You can trade..
..anything you do not eat.
lsn't that what Jews know best ?
Fill their pockets ?
Weitermachen.
Power saw and hammering
This one, with the string.
The others, are wire.
Power saw
( German from a distance)
Now !
A man coughing
Majorek.
l have a favor to ask you.
l must get out of here.
Getting out is easy.
lt's surviving out there that isn't. l know...
Last summer l worked at Gelazna Brama Plaza.
l saw an old friend there.
A singer, her husband is an actor.
l wrote down their address, if they're still there.
Janina Godlewska and Anddjei Bogoutski.
Good people.
Can you contact them ?
Since you go out every day,..
..you could ask them to help me ?
The door opens.
You have a bandage ?
Yes.
What are you up to ?
Nothing.
What have you got in there ?
We have permission to bring food to the ghetto.
3 kilos of potatoes and some bread.
Open it !
Yes.
Just some potatoes and bread.
You're lying, l can smell it.
- Open it. - Yes.
Potatoes !
You're all alike !
Give a Jew your little finger
he'll take your whole arm.
lf you lie to me one more time l'll kill you myself.
l looked for your friends.
They have moved but...
You contacted them ? Get ready to leave.
When ? Soon.
( German)
Shit.
Whipping
l'll teach you discipline, dirty Jews !
- You know why we beat you ? - No.