The Pianist (2002)

Director: Roman Polanski
Stars: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Emilia Fox

Based on the true story of famous pianist Wladek Szpilman (Brody), The Pianist picks up in Warsaw, during German rule. The bombs smash a radio station during a live broadcast of Szpilman's performance, and it only gets worse from there. He barely escapes the concentration camp where his family's sent, and works slave labor in the city before going into hiding.

This suspenseful historical drama is particularly important as it marked Polanski's return to form after a decade of oddities and misfires.