2002 Film Named Among the Best World War 2 Movies Ever - and Trouble Almost Sank It
The Pianist is the heart-wrenching tale of the horrors of the Holocaust told through the eyes of a Jewish musician who is trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto. Adrien Brody would win the Academy Award for Best Actor for the titular role, becoming, at 29, the youngest actor to ever do so.
However, the movie ran into trouble along the way because of controversies with its director. They still follow it. Entertainment Weekly namedThe Pianist to its list of the 23 best World War 2 movies ever made (it placed 18th) but noted the controversies when doing so.
"The film is shrouded in the continuing controversy of its director, Roman Polanski. But that doesn't diminish the remarkable achievements of the rest of the cast and the crew," EW noted.
'The Pianist' Was Praised by Critics & Audiences
Despite the controversy, The Pianist is praised by critics and audiences for its artistry and acting. It's ratings are both over 95% positive on Rotten Tomatoes.
"In this adaptation of the autobiography The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945, Władysław Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins," the Rotten Tomatoes' caption says. "Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw."
Fans weighed in on the Rotten Tomatoes site. "One of the most powerful cinematic experiences I have ever seen," wrote one. "Brilliant and powerful," wrote another fan.
"Keeps your eyes glued to the screen for the entirety of the movie! Horrifying and incomprehensibly cruel at times. The Pianist along with Schindler's List should be a mandatory watch for every young adult growing up!" wrote another person.
"Adrien's acting in this film left me speechless. His portrayal of a Jewish man struggling to survive during the Holocaust felt incredibly real and powerful," another person added.
Critics were just as positive. "A master work on humanity vs. inhumanity, on the resilience and mercy of art, and on the personal horrors brought on by one of the world's darkest events," wrote critic Keith Garlington.
What Did Director Roman Polanski Do?
What did Polanski do? According to ABC News, Polanski "pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl and then fled the country before he was sentenced." The victim "has said she forgives Polanski and doesn't think he should face further jail time," ABC News reported, but the details are very disturbing. Polanski's case dates to 1977. Polanski was arrested in 2009.
However, he was never extradited to the U.S. even after the Swiss arrest in 2009. "The 76-year-old French-Polish film director Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the USA. The measures in place to restrict his freedom have been revoked," the Swiss government wrote at the time. "This announcement was made by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), in Bern on Monday. The decision was due to deficiencies in the US extradition request that could not be satisfactorily resolved despite intensive efforts. Account was also taken of the principles governing state action that derive from international public policy."
David Wells, who prosecuted the case, told ABC that it was "an outrageous offense. It's a good thing he was arrested. I wish it would have happened years before."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Polanski fled when he got wind that a judge might give him 50 years in prison.
"As far as what I did: It's over. I pleaded guilty," Polanski said in 2017 to THR. "I went to jail. I came back to the United States to do it, people forget about that, or don't even know. I then was locked up here [in Zurich] after this festival. So in the sum, I did about four or five times more than what was promised to me."
In2024, Polanski, then 91, settled a civil suit stemming from another old accusation.
According to The Guardian, "Four women came forward between 2017 and 2019 accusing Polanski of abusing them in the 1970s – three of them were allegedly minors at the time." Polanski denies the accusations.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 10:49 AM.