Polanski's return to form is handsomely presented on a DVD that will also give you a fascinating insight into the true depth of horror behind this harrowing story.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture The striking, near monochromatic look of the film transfers to disc with impeccable quality.

Sound The sheer loneliness of Szpilman is beautifully emphasised through an atmospheric 5.1 sound mix.

DISC TWO SPECIAL FEATURES

There are no special features on disc one. What is offered on disc two may seem somewhat spartan but it's a case of quality over quantity.

A Story of Survival This 39-minute documentary is both sobering and absorbing. Polanski may well be back on form with "The Pianist", but the personal pain he had to re-live to make the film must have been considerable. He can vividly recollect how his father was slapped and humiliated by Nazi officers for not walking in the gutter, and how his mother was taken away to a concentration camp. He never saw her again.

We see a lot of authentic footage shot by the Germans, and scriptwriter Ronald Harwood talks about having to sit through hours of such material with Polanski, and how both were struck by the direction of it all. People being shot, corpses in the street, and other distressing scenarios were not only filmed with gusto but were sometimes set up and produced so the filmmakers could get the best results.

The production of the film is covered in great depth, and the life of Wladyslaw Szpilman is also dealt with. Brody talks at length about his preparation for the role and trying to identify with such an extraordinary figure.

Additional Extra Features Also on disc two is a photo gallery, poster gallery, trailer, cast and crew filmographies, and an advertisement for the soundtrack.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Chapters: 12
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: See Captions
Captions: English
Menus: Animated, with music
Special Features Subtitles None of the special features come with subtitles.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.