WLADYSLAW "WLADEK" SZPILMAN

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Born in 1911, Sosnwiec, Poland.
• Mother and father: Samuel and Edwarda Szpilman
• Siblings: Henryk and Regina Szpilman.
• Szpilman early on showed talent and interest in piano.

MUSICAL CAREER

• First studied at Chopin school of music, Warsaw.
• 1931:Moved to Germany to study at the Academy of arts in Berlin.
• 1933: Moved back to Warsaw and became a well respected pianist.
• 1935: Became house pianist at the radio station.
• 1939: Composed many songs, and became a well known pianist throughout Poland.

LIFE DURING WORLD WAR TWO

• 1933: Nazis took power.
• 1935: Continued work (at radio station) while under Nazi Control.
• 1939: Szpilman performed the last live music to broadcast.
• 1939: Szpilman and his family were taken to live in Warsaw Ghetto.
• Worked in Café Nowaczesna playing for wealthy jews and Nazis.

LIFE DURING WWII (CONTINUED)

• Szpilman's family was eventually transported to Treblinka where they died.
• Towards the end of WWII, Szpilman was living off scarce food and on the verge of dying, when he encountered a German officer who decided to spare his life.
• Szpilman survived the war, however the officer who saved him, Wilm Hosenfeld, died in a Prisoner of War camp.

LIFE AFTER WWII

• After the war, Szpilman got his job back at the polish radio station.
• He lived in Poland for the remainder of his life.
• Got married and had two children, Andrzej and Christopher Szpilman.
• Retired from touring in 1986 and devoted his time to composing.
• Died: 2000, Warsaw Poland. (Natural causes)

IMPACT

• At the time of his death, Szpilman was one of the most popular and well known musicians of post war Poland.
• After the war, Szpilman released his memoir (published 1946) "The Pianist".
• 2002: Director Roman Polanski directed the movie "The Pianist" about Szpilman's survival in the Warsaw Ghetto. (Based on the book)

MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE

• Szpilman was played by Adrien Brody.
• Received Academy Awards for: Best actor in leading role (Adrien Brody), best director (Roman Polanski), and best writing (Ronald Harwood).
• Also nominated for awards such as: best picture, best cinematography, best costume design, and best film editing.
• Polanski is a holocaust survivor as well.

CHALLENGE QUESTION

• What lengths did Szpilman go to, to survive in the ghetto? Are the accusations against him true?
• Although there is not proof, Wiera Gran accused Szpilman of working with the Gestapo during his time in the ghetto, to stay alive and provide for himself and his family.
• Gran (a cabaret singer he played with during the war) describes a day she recalls seeing Szpilman loading jews into cars to be transported.

CHALLENGE QUESTION (CONTINUED)

• Journalist Agata Tuszynska describes this in her biography about Wiera Gran.
• Some people believe that Gran made these accusations in spite against Szpilman, because for a long time many people thought it was Gran in fact, that worked with Gestapo, because Szpilman accused her.
• Unfortunately, both Gran and Szpilman are no longer alive to testify.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Westervelt, Eric. "'The Pianist' Accused Of Working With Nazis." NPR. NPR, 19 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
• "'The Pianist' Accused Of Working With Nazis." Weekend Edition Saturday 20 Nov. 2010. Junior Edition. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.
• "Review: Polanski film 'The Pianist' shines as Holocaust portrait." All Things Considered 27 Dec. 2002. Junior Edition. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (CONTINUED)

• Anderson, Martin. "Obituary: Wladyslaw Szpilman." The Independent: 6. Aug 14 2000. ProQuest. Web. 6 Mar. 2015 .
• Gilbert, Shirli. "Music and the Holocaust." : Szpilman, Wladyslaw. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
• Gilbert, Shirli. "Music and the Holocaust." : Szpilman, Wladyslaw. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

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