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The Pianist
In 1939 at Warsaw, Poland, there was a pianist, Wlady Szpilman, who was a known pianist at a local radio station. He belonged to a Jewish family with parents, a brother, and two sisters. At the wars outbreak, everything turned upside down. The Jews became matter to the hostile laws imposed by Hitler and by the conquering Germans. Wlady saw himself and his family being degraded from who they are. They were isolated from all of Warsaw, and were sent to a Jewish Ghetto where they were like imprisoned. They were discriminated and harassed by German chiefs. When a German chief does not feel the Jew, they were reprimanded or were subjected to death. The Germans werent picky. May it be male or female, young or old; they dont care as long as they get what they truly desire: to eradicate all the Jews. Time after time, the Jews were deported to different German concentration camps. Their population continuously decrease; their health constantly deteriorates up to the point others die. Wlady decided to separate from his family and hide. He didnt lose hope. He worked and followed the rules being implied by the Germans. He did his best, but there came a point that he cannot take everything that the Germans did. So, he decided to escape from the camp. His friend helped him contact a person that he knew during his glory days. He was offered help, and he was also allowed to live in an abandoned apartment. He was transferred from one apartment to another so as not to put his life in danger. A day came when the Germans attacked the apartment where Wlady stayed in. He was left alone by his friend because they are migrating to another safer place. He was locked in; he didnt know what to do. He almost got himself killed. On the contrary, he still survived. He found this house where he can hide. He hid in the attic to keep himself living. Without knowing that there are still people inside the house, a German, Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, came to discover Wlady in the houses fire place. Wlady was asked to play the piano. Hosenfeld liked it. He gave Wlady food and assurance that he wont do anything to hurt him. It is because the Germans days are counted. The Russians
already arrived to defeat Germany. After a few days, Germany retreated, and the Russians earned victory. Wlady was set free. His life returned to the way that it used to be. He was then again a pianist in a radio station. Realizations: After viewing the film, I have come to realize that World War II is much complicated than World War I. More people were killed and more damage was produced. There was also intense racism, to the extent that people were killed without even having justified reasons. I have also realized that despite the hardships and obstacles that you encounter in life, there is a certain person who is always ready to lend a helping hand. It is because every problem has a solution. In life, everything has a reason. World War II didnt just appear without any reason at all. It came to show the world that Germans werent the persons who they think they were. No matter how pompous and conceited they are, there is still someone who is better and more powerful than them. The things that they did to the Jews bounced back to them. The Germans suffered the consequences of their acts. Thus, as the golden rule states, do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you. Think before you act. Weigh things. Be sure that what you are doing is for everyones betterment. Unlike the Germans, they only thought of their own benefits. Suggestions: As a student, to avoid wars or conflicts, I can simply mind my own business. It is because once you disturb other peoples business, chaos is being inflicted. This may cause damage both physically and emotionally. You may end up hurting each other or cause desolation to the persons emotional well-being. This may lower the self-esteem, and itll take a long time before rejuvenation. A lot of things are needed to eradicate or avoid conflicts. But going back to the simplest and main cause of every conflict, one shouldnt mind the business of another person so as not to be minded with our own businesses. Hence, mind your own business so as to promote peace and avoid war.