This film presents many intertextual elements:
The film is intertextual in itself as it is based on the book “The Pianist”.
Films and documentaries about the holocaust.
Jesus Christ’s appearance: Szpilman looks like Jesus in the Passion after the ordeal he has gone through.
My struggle by Hitler: The German Captain fits the characteristics of the ideal German: blond, tall, with blue eyes, dressed in impeccable clothes.
The character’s name is a homophone of Spielman, which in German means player.
Music: Chopin’s Ballad N° 1
Symbols
The boots: indexical of military force and power
The eagle on the Captain’s jacket: symbolic of power. Big wings embrace and dominate …show more content…
The captain is two steps above the floor.
When the Captain and the Pianist pass through the door, there is no physical contact between them, even though the passage is narrow. They are at the same level. The German doesn’t look down on the pianist as he did when they just met. Both the characters and the background deep focus. In this way we are introduced to the piano which is the core of the scene
There are very expensive pieces of furniture.
While the German soldier is listening to the pianist playing, he looks at him from above, standing by the piano. Then he sits down and listens. He is at the same level as the pianist again.
The cap and coat of the captain are on the piano as well as the can.
Illumination:
Dark, only some beams of artificial light enter through the window. The German is better lit.
The pianist hands are always better illuminated than his body. While he plays, there is a strong beam of light which illuminates his head and hands.
Colours
Dark: grey, blue, black for the