Is The Pianist on Netflix| How to watch The Pianist (2002) in the United States on Netflix in 2023?

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The Pianist Netflix

The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama directed by Roman Polanski and starring Adrien Brody. The movie is based on the 1946 book of the same name by Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist who lived in the aftermath of World War ||.

The film revolves around Szpilman’s (Brody) life during the Nazi occupation of Poland. We see him as a successful pianist performing in Warsaw’s concert halls. But as the war progresses, Szpilman’s life becomes increasingly difficult.

Read the entire blog to find the ultimate solution for watching The Pianist on Netflix from the US or anywhere around the world.

How to watch The Pianist on Netflix in 2023?

How to watch The Pianist on Netflix

The Pianist is available on Netflix but not internationally. Get ExpressVPN to change your IP address and watch The Pianist in other countries.

Here are the steps you need to follow.

1- Get ExpressVPN to unblock Netflix (12+3 month special deal with a 30-day money-back guarantee)

2- Download the VPN app on your preferred device (ExpressVPN works on Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows)

3- Select a Canadian server from the country list

4- Now open Netflix.com on your browser or in the app

5- Search for The Pianist on Netflix

6- Enjoy the movie

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Why do you need a VPN to watch The Pianist on Netflix?

The Pianist is streaming on Netflix but in limited countries and libraries. If you can’t find it in your Netflix library, that means the movie is not available in your country due to copyrights and content licensing issues.

However, with a reliable VPN, you can easily change your Netflix region and watch The Pianist on Netflix from anywhere. We recommend ExpressVPN after thoroughly testing it; we also tested NordVPN and Surfshark, and they, too, worked perfectly with Netflix.

Why is ExpressVPN a good choice?

ExpressVPN is considered the best VPN for Netflix globally. It has been rated No.1 by several VPN review websites and publications, including Techradar, Wizcase, and VPNmentor. We also tested ExpressVPN to access the Canadian Netflix library and watched The Pianist on Netflix from the USA.

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Is The Pianist on Netflix?

The Pianist is available on Netflix but in limited countries like Australia. If you reside in the United States, then you won’t be able to find The Pianist in your Netflix library, and that is due to geo-restrictions and content distribution issues.

However, these frustrating issues can be overcome with the help of a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN. You can change your IP address with ExpressVPN and watch The Pianist from the US on Netflix.

The Pianist – Netflix Countries

The Pianist is a masterpiece of filmmaking that exposes the strugglingly tricky time after the Second World War. The movie’s plot and outstanding performances by the cast made the audience curious about where they could watch it online.

Our team of experts has checked several Netflix libraries and found The Pianist in the Netflix library of the following countries:

  • Canada (tested)
  • Czech Republic
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Others

The Pianist – Release Date

The Pianist was released in the United States on September 6, 2002, and grossed a worldwide revenue of $120.1 million.

The movie was critically praised and got an IMDb rating of 8.5/10 and a certified fresh score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not to forget that The Pianist secured 3 out of 7 Academy Awards it was nominated for and 2 BAFTA Awards.

If you like watching movies, watch The Conjuring 2, Shrek The Third, Princess Mononoke, Legally Blonde, and Heathers on Netflix.

The Pianist – Official Trailer

The Pianist – What to Expect from the Movie?

Based on the true story of acclaimed Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman, The Pianist chronicles Szpilman’s struggle to survive the Nazi occupation of Warsaw during World War II.

A Musician’s Survival in Chaos

In 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, Szpilman was a celebrated pianist living in Warsaw. Along with his affluent family, Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw ghetto as Jews lose their rights under Nazi control. As conditions deteriorate and deportations increase, his family is sent to extermination camps.

A Pianist’s Solitary Battle for Life

Szpilman escapes and goes into hiding as the sole survivor of his family. He struggles to find food and shelter, narrowly avoiding capture time and again. At one point, a German officer discovers him but allows him to live after hearing him play the piano.

Hide and Seeking Life

Szpilman continues to hide in abandoned buildings, relying on sympathetic non-Jews and the Polish resistance for supplies. In 1944, he witnessed the Warsaw Uprising as resistance fighters battled German forces in the streets. But the revolt is crushed after two months.

Relief of Being Rescued

In the war’s final days, Szpilman remains in the ruins of Warsaw, barely surviving starvation. He is finally rescued by a Polish resistance group and is overjoyed to return home when Soviet forces liberated Warsaw in 1945.

Sweet Memories

Throughout his years in isolation, Szpilman is sustained by memories of his family and passion for music – the one thing the Nazis cannot take from him. His perseverance through immense hardship and loss is an incredible story of the resiliency of the human spirit.

The Cast of The Pianist

The Pianist features powerful performances from its highly talented cast. Following are the cast and characters of The Pianists and their notable work:

  • Adrien Brody stars as Władysław Szpilman, a Polish Jewish pianist trying to survive the Holocaust. Brody delivered an Oscar-winning performance showing Szpilman’s struggle and perseverance. Brody has also appeared in movies like King Kong, Midnight in Paris and shows like Peaky Blinders.
  • Thomas Kretschmann plays Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer who helps save Szpilman. Kretschmann brought complexity to the character, showing humanity amidst tragedy. Kretschmann has also appeared in films like The Young Karl Marx.
  • Emilia Fox portrays Dorota, Szpilman’s sister, who is sent to the Warsaw Ghetto. Fox depicted Dorota’s courage in a time of cruelty. She has also acted in films such as Cashback and TV shows like Silent Witness.
  • Ed Stoppard acts as Henryk, Szpilman’s friend and fellow musician. Stoppard conveyed warmth and loyalty. He has also been seen in Belle du Seigneur and Upstairs Downstairs.
  • Maureen Lipman plays Szpilman’s mother, trying to keep her family safe. Lipman showed both tenderness and despair. She has over 100 acting credits in shows like Educating Rita and Coronation Street.

Can I Watch The Pianist with a Free VPN?

Free VPNs can really damage your privacy and safety. Their security is weak, so hackers could steal your information. Free VPNs also limit how much internet you can use – usually only 500MB per month. That’s too little for normal browsing and videos, and it proved to be a big hindrance for us when we tried to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on Netflix.

Experts say paid VPNs like ExpressVPN are better. For a small monthly fee, paid VPNs give strong security to protect your identity and information. You also get unlimited internet use without limits.

In short, paid VPNs provide important security tools and unlimited access. Paying a little is worth it to browse safely and keep your information secure. Choosing a good paid VPN is the most secure option. The extra benefits of paid VPNs make their low cost reasonable to protect your privacy.

What else can you watch on Netflix?

Netflix has some of the best movies, like Battle Royal. Check out our personal recommendations to watch on Netflix below:

The Pianist – FAQs

During the 75th Academy Awards, The Pianist achieved victories in three categories, namely Best Director, which was awarded to Polanski; Best Adapted Screenplay, which was credited to Harwood; and Best Actor, which was bestowed upon Andrien Brody. Additionally, it secured nominations in four other prestigious categories, including Best Picture, although it ultimately fell short of the film "Chicago."

Yes, many viewers claim that The Pianist is one of the hardest movies to watch. However, while the disturbing subject matter makes The Pianist challenging to watch at times, the film provides a vital reminder of the horrors that occurred during the Holocaust.

At the end of The Pianist, Władysław Szpilman's survival provides a somewhat ambiguous but ultimately uplifting conclusion, rendering it suitable for a broader audience as a form of entertainment.

No, The Pianist is not available on Hulu. Now that the bad news is out of the way let's get into the good stuff. You can stream The Pianist from the US on Netflix by relying on ExpressVPN to change your IP address.

Netflix has made no official announcements for the release date of The Pianist on its American content library. However, ExpressVPN makes it extremely simple to watch the movie on Netflix without waiting for its release in the US.

Just connect to an Australian server and change your Netflix region. This will allow you unrestricted access to geo-restricted content otherwise unavailable in the US.

The majority of the filming for The Pianist took place in Warsaw, specifically in the Mazowieckie region of Poland. Other notable filming locations included Mała Street in Warsaw's Praga-Północ district, Babelsberg Studio in Potsdam, Germany, the National Defence University of Warsaw, and Hotel Saski.

The Pianist was made on a small budget of just $35 million and was able to make $120.1 million at the global box office. Along with being a commercial success, The Pianist was also critically praised by reviewers.

Roger Ebert, the film critic from the Chicago Sun-Times, awarded the movie three and a half stars out of a possible four. He observed that the film's portrayal of Szpilman's impassive nature might be a deliberate choice by director Roman Polanski to convey a particular message.

Ebert suggested that Polanski may be using Szpilman's character to illustrate the idea of survival without heroism or fighting, depicting him as someone who relied on luck and the kindness of non-Jews to endure. In doing so, Polanski may be reflecting on his own profound emotions about his survival, recognizing that he survived due to fortunate circumstances and the lingering pain of losing his mother, a wound that has never fully healed.

Michael Wilmington, a critic from the Chicago Tribune, praised the film, stating that it was the most compelling dramatic depiction of the Holocaust experience he had encountered. He described it as a profoundly impactful exploration of war, inhumanity, and the redemptive power of art.

Wilmington also suggested that this film could signify a renaissance in Roman Polanski's artistic career, highlighting that it effectively conveys the theme of art's resilience in the face of personal and historical turmoil. In Wilmington's view, The Pianist not only exemplifies this theme but also demonstrates Polanski's own enduring artistic strength, which has endured through the chaos of his life and the devastating effects of war and prejudice.

Wrap Up

The Pianist is a must-see film for anyone interested in the Holocaust or the power of the human spirit. It is a harrowing and yet ultimately hopeful film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

We have tested ExpressVPN and watched The Pianist on Netflix from USA, and it worked perfectly. Therefore, we highly recommend it to all our readers.

Written by Jessica Lynch

With over a decade in entertainment writing, Jessica Lynch expertly navigates film, TV, and streaming content. Her insightful writing tips and guides are loved by industry peers and audiences.