The Pianist Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wladyslaw

Wladyslaw Szpilman was well known in his home city but, as a Polish Jew, his talents were no protection once the Germans had taken control of Poland. The film followed the restrictions placed on the Jews, through the eyes of the Szpilman family, who had to wear the Star of David, before being forced into the ghetto to live. Fryderyk was the first name of Chopin, usually spelled as Frederic in English. Tadeusz Baird and Juliusz Zarebski were also Polish composers.

Answer: Adrien Brody

Fiennes was considered for the role, but had other commitments making him unavailable. Brody took the part, and learned to play the piano proficiently enough to make his hand movements look convincing during filming. Some of his playing was, apparently, included in the film, although most of the music was performed by Janusz Olejniczak, the Polish classical pianist. Brody was rewarded for his efforts by winning the Best Actor Oscar for his role. His other acting credits include 'King Kong' (2005) and the role of Salvador Dali in 'Midnight in Paris' (2011).

Answer: Radio studio

Szpilman was depicted playing for a radio broadcast, which was interrupted by the arrival of the Germans. He continued to play, with explosions taking place outside, until the studio itself was damaged. On returning home, his hopes were raised by hearing in a radio broadcast that Britain and France had declared war on Germany, but the Nazis soon captured Warsaw which led to the beginning of the family's sufferings.

Answer: Brother

The film showed the lives of the whole family, who initially remained in their own home. The father and mother were played by British actors Frank Finlay and Maureen Lipman. As well as his brother, Henryk, Szpilman had two sisters named Regina and Halina, who were portrayed by Julia Rayner and Jessica Kate Meyer respectively.

In the film, the whole family was transported away from Warsaw by train, clearly to a concentration camp. Although not made clear in the film, they were sent to Treblinka where they all died. Szpilman himself was saved at the last minute by a friend in the Jewish police force, who was working for the German occupiers.

Answer: None

Szpilman's actions throughout the film were mainly passive. He observed the uprising, in 1943, and its failure, and also witnessed an attack by the Polish resistance the following year, but took no active part in either. He did help to smuggle weapons into the ghetto while living there, but had escaped some time before the uprising took place.

His vantage point in his hiding place meant that he saw some of the fighting, but that was all. Szpilman took a low key role throughout the film, remaining in hiding while others helped him by bringing food and supplies.

His energies remained focused on staying alive.

Answer: Emilia Fox

All the actresses named are from famous British acting dynasties - Redgrave and Richardson are both members of the Redgrave family. Emilia Fox, daughter of Edward, portrayed Dorota, who was the sister of one of Szpilman's friends. She accompanied Szpilman on several occasions, and saw the way his life became increasingly restricted because he was Jewish. Later in the film her husband was one of the men who risked his life to help Szpilman by providing him with a (relatively) safe place to live. Emilia Fox also appeared in 'Things to Do Before You're 30' (2005) and the 2009 film 'Dorian Gray'.

Answer: False

Szpilman's hiding place in an abandoned building was discovered by Wilm Hosenfeld. Discovering that Szpilman was a pianist, and amused that his name meant musician, Hosenfeld made Szpilman play for him. Moved by his musicianship, he kept the pianist alive by supplying him with food. Hosenfeld was captured by the Soviet army, and sent a message to Szpilman asking for his help.

By the time Szpilman received the message, and went to find him, Hosenfeld had been moved on and the two men never met again.

The end credits of the film disclosed that Hosenfeld died in 1952, still a captive of the Soviets.

Answer: German greatcoat

Hosenfeld had given Szpilman his greatcoat during their last meeting, saying that he had a warmer one already and in the knowledge that the Germans were close to defeat. Szpilman was wearing the coat when he heard a group of Polish soldiers outside, and ran out. Naturally, the soldiers shot at him, but Szpilman was able to convince them of his Polish nationality and survived.

Answer: True

The end of the film depicted the pianist playing Chopin in a large concert hall. While this was being shown, viewers were given the information that Szpilman lived until 2000, dying at the age of eighty-eight. The film was based on the book about the real Szpilman, which was originally published in Poland in 1946. Szpilman's son, Andrzej, had the book reissued in German, and then English and other languages, in 1998.

Answer: Roman Polanski

All the directors listed have Jewish roots, but Polanski was of Polish descent. His family was living in Poland when war broke out, and he suffered the indignities of the ghetto, although in Krakow rather than Warsaw. Although his father survived the war, Polanski's mother died in Auschwitz. 'The Pianist' must have been close to his heart, and he won the Oscar for Best Director for the film. Spielberg, of course, brought us that other epic of the war, 'Schindler's List', in 1993.