Perhaps my favourite film ever (with the possible exception of The Railway Children) is being shown on television this weekend. Unsurprisingly it is called The Pianist.
The film is based on the true story of brilliant musician Wladyslaw Szpilman and is set in Nazi-occupied Poland. Szpilman has to witness his family being sent to the death-camps but he escapes and hides.
Part of the appeal of the film is the lovely Chopin pieces played within it – including several Nocturnes and the wonderful Ballade in G minor. However, even for non-music-lovers there is much to enjoy and – despite the harrowing parts – I found it more watchable than Schindler’s List, with which it’s often compared.
The Pianist is on ITV3 tonight/Saturday morning at 12.40-3.10am, then repeated on ITV3+1 tomorrow at 1.40am and again on ITV3 on Monday at 1.25am.
All my tips and advice on how to Teach Piano at Home are now available to read on your Kindle or other tablet device in my new 240-page eBook at Amazon - you can read more about it by clicking the red or blue button below.