"All Will Be Well" (Situational Irony)
Mr. Szpilman proposes a toast with his family after they hear that the British and French forces have declared war against Germany. They believe help is on the way for them, but the irony is that conditions are about to get much harder and all will not, in fact, be well.
Hideaway (Dramatic Irony)
At many points throughout the film, Szpilman is in hiding from the Nazis, whether staying in a flat alone or hiding out in an abandoned hospital. In these instances, there is dramatic irony, as the viewer knows Szpilman's whereabouts, but the Nazis do not. This irony raises the stakes of his dilemma and aligns us with Szpilman's fight for survival.
Hosenfeld helping Szpilman (Situational and Dramatic Irony)
When Hosenfeld, the Nazi soldier, finds Szpilman hiding out in the abandoned ghetto, it seems as though Szpilman will surely be killed. However, he asks Szpilman to play the piano for him, and is so moved by his playing that he ends up helping him stay alive. This is ironic because it is so unexpected for a Nazi to be sympathetic towards a Jew, especially after we see the horrific violence perpetrated by the Nazis in the rest of the film. It is also an instance of dramatic irony, because Hosenfeld's peers have no idea he is helping Szpilman survive.
German Coat (Situational and Dramatic Irony)
When the Polish and Russian armies come into town, signaling the end of the Nazi reign, they mistake Szpilman for a Nazi, because he is wearing Hosenfeld's old coat. They shoot at him with machine guns, an ironic twist of fate, since he has been facing violent treatment by the Nazis this whole time. It is also an instance of dramatic irony, because the viewer knows that he is a Polish Jew, but the soldiers do not.
