1998
Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish pianist, endures the German invasion of Warsaw and the horrors of the ghetto, where his family faces persecution and is eventually deported. Saved by a Jewish policeman, Szpilman escapes the ghetto and spends a harrowing period hiding in abandoned apartments, witnessing the city's destruction. Discovered by German officer Wilm Hosenfeld, Szpilman is unexpectedly given food, shelter, and even the officer's coat as the Germans retreat. After the war, Szpilman resumes his career, but his attempts to find and thank Hosenfeld, who dies in Soviet captivity, are unsuccessful.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A celebrated pianist endures the bombing of Warsaw and the horrors of the Jewish ghetto before surviving in hiding and ultimately returning to music.
Open full beat sheetWladyslaw Szpilman is listed as Protagonist. A talented Jewish pianist living in Warsaw during WWII. In the parsed data, Wladyslaw Szpilman is connected to 65 scenes, 67 dialogue lines, 68 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
65 scenes / 67 dialogue linesHenryk is listed as Family. Szpilman's brother. In the parsed data, Henryk is connected to 19 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
19 scenes / 17 dialogue linesFather is listed as Family. Szpilman's father. In the parsed data, Father is connected to 13 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
13 scenes / 9 dialogue linesMother is listed as Family. Szpilman's mother. In the parsed data, Mother is connected to 11 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
11 scenes / 10 dialogue linesRegina is listed as Family. Szpilman's sister. In the parsed data, Regina is connected to 10 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
10 scenes / 6 dialogue linesHalina is listed as Family. Szpilman's sister. In the parsed data, Halina is connected to 10 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
10 scenes / 4 dialogue linesWilm Hosenfeld is listed as Supporting. A German officer who helps Szpilman. In the parsed data, Wilm Hosenfeld is connected to 9 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
9 scenes / 26 dialogue linesMajorek is listed as Supporting. A member of the resistance. In the parsed data, Majorek is connected to 8 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 30.
8 scenes / 7 dialogue linesYitzchak Heller is listed as Antagonist/Supporting. A Jewish policeman in the ghetto. In the parsed data, Yitzchak Heller is connected to 6 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
6 scenes / 14 dialogue linesDorota is listed as Supporting. A young woman who admires Szpilman's music. In the parsed data, Dorota is connected to 5 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
5 scenes / 13 dialogue linesJurek is listed as Supporting. Dorota's brother. In the parsed data, Jurek is connected to 5 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
5 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJehuda Zyskind is listed as Supporting. A socialist acquaintance of Szpilman. In the parsed data, Jehuda Zyskind is connected to 4 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
4 scenes / 7 dialogue linesSzpilman plays piano during a broadcast when the station is bombed.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman flees the bombed station and meets Dorota.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Dorota, JurekThe Szpilman family prepares to flee Warsaw, but Wladek refuses.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykThe family celebrates the news of the war declaration.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykGerman soldiers march into Warsaw.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Father, HenrykThe family discusses how to hide their money and valuables.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykSzpilman calls Jurek to discuss the radio station.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, JurekSzpilman and Dorota walk together.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, DorotaThe family learns about the order to wear armbands.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykFather is assaulted by German officers for not bowing.
FatherThe family learns about the creation of the Jewish ghetto.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykThe family sells their piano to Mr. Lipa.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, HenrykThe Szpilman family moves into the ghetto.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Dorota, Mother, Father, Regina, HalinaThe family settles into their new home in the ghetto.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykSzpilman and Henryk try to sell books in the ghetto market.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykSzpilman and Henryk encounter a woman looking for her husband while walking through the ghetto.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykJews are forced to dance by German soldiers at a busy intersection.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykYitzchak Heller visits the Szpilman family to recruit Henryk and Szpilman for the Jewish police.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Henryk, Yitzchak HellerSzpilman plays piano in a crowded cafe while customers conduct business.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman witnesses a child being killed while trying to crawl through a hole in the ghetto wall.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman visits Jehuda Zyskind, who is printing underground newspapers.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Jehuda Zyskind, MajorekThe Szpilman family eats dinner while Henryk tells a grim story about a surgeon.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykThe Gestapo raids the building opposite the Szpilmans, killing a family.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Mother, Father, Regina, Halina, HenrykHalina arrives at the cafe to tell Szpilman that Henryk has been picked up.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HalinaSzpilman attempts to get Heller to release Henryk.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Yitzchak HellerHeller releases Henryk, who is furious at Szpilman for intervening.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Henryk, Yitzchak HellerSzpilman and Henryk cross the bridge connecting the ghettos; Henryk collapses from hunger.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykSzpilman helps Henryk to the cafe.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykHenryk eats while discussing the necessity of employment certificates to avoid deportation.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, HenrykSzpilman and Majorek discuss the final resettlement and the resistance while taking a break.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, MajorekSzpilman is beaten by Zick-Zack after dropping bricks while watching Russian bombers.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Yitzchak Heller, MajorekAn SS Captain visits the site to falsely reassure workers about resettlement.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, MajorekSzpilman discovers weapons hidden in a sack of potatoes.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, MajorekSzpilman asks Majorek to help him escape the ghetto.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, MajorekAn SS Lieutenant discovers Szpilman hiding food and weapons.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanThe workers march back to the ghetto while being harassed by Zick-Zack.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Yitzchak Heller, MajorekSzpilman escapes the ghetto column and meets Janina.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman is cleaned up and hidden by the Boguckis.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman is hidden in a secret compartment in a basement.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman listens to neighbors arguing while hiding.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanGerman forces suppress the ghetto uprising.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanGebczynski warns Szpilman he must flee again.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanGebczynski warns Szpilman to flee after the Gestapo arrests their associates, advising him to commit suicide if captured.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Yitzchak HellerSzpilman is discovered by a neighbor and forced to flee the apartment building.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman seeks refuge with Dorota and her husband Michal.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Dorota, JurekMichal hides Szpilman in a new apartment located in a dangerous area.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, JurekSzalas visits Szpilman to provide food and updates on the war.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Jurek, MajorekSzpilman climbs the stairs with a tin of food.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman reaches the top floor and finds a door.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman hides in the attic and hears piano music.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanArtillery fire glows on the horizon.
Szpilman wakes and decides to go back to the kitchen.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman creeps down the stairs.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman is caught by a German Captain while trying to open a tin.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Wilm HosenfeldThe Captain forces Szpilman to play the piano.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Wilm HosenfeldThe Captain inspects Szpilman's hiding place and promises food.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Wilm HosenfeldThe Captain leaves the villa.
Wilm HosenfeldSzpilman weeps with relief.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanThe Captain works in the villa.
Wilm HosenfeldThe Captain brings food to Szpilman.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Wilm HosenfeldThe Germans evacuate the villa.
The Captain gives Szpilman his coat.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Wilm HosenfeldPolish liberation music is heard.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman decides to leave.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman leaves the villa.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman is mistaken for a German and fired upon.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanSzpilman convinces the Polish soldiers he is Polish.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanLednicki encounters the German Captain in a POW camp.
Jehuda Zyskind, Wilm HosenfeldSzpilman plays the piano.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Jehuda ZyskindSzpilman and Lednicki search for the camp.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, Jehuda ZyskindSzpilman performs a concert.
Wladyslaw SzpilmanThey're going to start the final resettlement now. We know what it means. We sent someone out. Zygmunt. A good man. His orders were to follow the trains out of Warsaw. He got to Sokolow. A local railwayman told him the tracks are divided, one branch leading to Treblinka. He said every day freight trains carrying people from Warsaw forked to Treblinka and returned empty. No transports of food are ever seen on that line. And civilians are forbidden to approach the Treblinka station. They're exterminating us. Won't take them long. We're sixty thousand left. Out of half a million. Mostly young people. And this time we're going to fight. We're in good shape. We're organised. We're prepared.
'Re: emblems for Jews in the Warsaw District. I hereby order that all Jews in the Warsaw District will wear visible emblems when out of doors. This decree will come into force on the 1st December 1939 and applies to all Jews over twelve years of age. The emblem will be worn on the right sleeve and will represent a blue Star of David on a white background. The background must be sufficiently large for the Star to measure eight centimetres from point to point. The width of the arms of the Star must be one centimetre. Jews who do not respect this decree will be severely punished. Governor of Warsaw District, Dr. Fischer.'
I know. But last summer, I worked for a day in Zelazna Brama Square. I saw someone I knew. A singer. Her husband's an actor. They're old friends. I've written their names down. And their address. If they're still there. Janina Godlewska and Andrzej Bogucki. Good people. Majorek, you go into the town every day. Would you try and make contact? Ask them if they'd help me get out of here?
You don't know, believe me. They bribe the guards. The guards turn a blind eye. They're bringing in cartloads, food, tobacco, liquor, French cosmetics, and the poor are dying all around them and they don't give a damn.
You're in a very German area. The building opposite is a hospital, taking in wounded from the Russian front. Next door is the Schutzpolizei. It's the safest place to be. Right in the centre of the lion's den.
He'd just made the first incision when the SS burst in, shoot the patient lying on the table, and then shoot Dr. Raszeja and everybody else who was there. Isn't that a laugh?
I shouted abuse at them, I'm not proud of it, but that's what I did, and, I'm certain, I stood where you are now. There was barbed wire, and this German came up to me.
I nagged Jurek for weeks and weeks. And at last he gave in and said, 'All right, come with me tomorrow,' and so I came and they bombed the station.
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