Polanski's "The Pianist" opens to the public across the country from today

Following its success at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Palme d'Or for best film, Roman Polanski's latest film "The Pianist" had its world premiere in Warsaw yesterday and can from today be seen in the nations cinemas. Polanski has for many years claimed he wanted to make a film in his homeland. He said he always knew he would return to make a Holocaust film, but was waiting for the right story. He found it in the memoirs of Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who managed to survive the Holocaust. Although the reactions of the Polish and the Western press differed, many critics tip "The Pianist" for an Oscar. (Zycie, p. 1,2,3) A.Z.