Roman Polanski directs this drama portraying the true story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody)'s experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city are forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café. After his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, working as a labourer before going into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.

With the Nazis closing in on him, Szpilman must endure an arduous cat-and-mouse game which will test his will to survive.