The Piano (1992)
Moderate sex scene, moderate violence, infrequent coarse language
Ada (Holly Hunter), mute since birth, her nine year old daughter (Anna Paquin), and her piano arrive to an arranged marriage in the remote bush of nineteenth century New Zealand. Of all her belongings her husband refuses to transport the piano and it is left behind on the beach. Unable to bear it’s certain destruction, Ada strikes a bargain with an illiterate tattooed neighbour (Hervey Keitel). She may earn her piano back if she allows him to do certain things while she play’s – one black key for every lesson.
The arrangement draws all three deeper and deeper into a complex emotional, sexual bond remarkable for its naïve passion and frightening disregard for limits.
| Status: | LongWait |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 116mins |
| Origin: | AUSTRALIA |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (14)
14 Member
Reviews
Steve
says
.
wingifred
says
Finally on the third disc I was able to view the movie The Piano right through without any interruptions because of freezing or having to jump ahead.
May I say it was well worth the wait. A most dramatic and deep and meaningful movie which included some very inspiring scenery and music.
Gary
says
An oldie but a goodie - after looking at the wet/windy weather and muddy conditions no wonder Kiwi's want to move to Oz
Anita L.
says
I struggled with this movie. I found the setting gloomy and I was really tempted to switch off this movie less than half way through. I persevered though. One particular scene toward the ending was quite tense - that was probably my favourite part of the movie, not in terms of the shocking thing that occurred, but because it actually got an emotion out of me. I admit that I chose the movie to watch Anna Paquin (I Love True Blood). If it was not for her, then I would not have bothered, although her character was a little annoying in her role at some points.
Van
says
Great movie!
Osti
says
The sound track voices were beyond the understanding of my hearing aids, so I got confused about what was going on quite early and went back to the menu to turn on the subtitles, and they wouldn't work. No good, I had to give up on it, which was a pity because it has been so well reviewed and awarded.
stimpy
says
A strong symbolic love story, that I think unless you can relate to what the piano gave her, you will struggle to enjoy the movie.
Greg H.
says
At the time, Kiwi filmmaking was really vibrant, and
would lead to the glory of LOTR. Aussie filmmaking
was constipated, and has still not got beyond this
garbage. Despite being filmed in EnZed, with
International Stars, in fact anything to try to hide the
fact that it was just another utterly appalling Aussie
PC Failure, the entire movie going world recognized,
in about 3/5 of a second, that it was just another
utterly appaling Aussie PC Failure, and stayed away
in droves. You are reccommended to do likewise.
There is crap, there is utter crap,
Helene C.
says
a story woth viewing again and again. The acting and the scenery are incredible, the story breathtaking and the emotions keep slaping at you: the courage, the erotiscism, the sadness, the will to be. One of the greats.
John N.
says
Rugged NZ landscape, beautifully shot, is the background to a most absorbing and dramatic story. Some reviewers have pointed out the symbolism that certain events are meant to represent. Forget all that rubbish and just enjoy the movie. Helen Hunt plays Michael Nyman's music with great feeling and surprising virtuosity. Anna Paquin, as the young daughter and her mother's mouthpiece, gives a remarkable performance.
Christiaan P.
says
norri
says
This was not really my sort of film.However I was glad I persisted even though I took a long time to warm to the characters. It is certainly deserving of all the praise it has received
Irene
says
Absolutely beautiful photography, found the story quite depressing, didn't need the sex scenes, excellent acting
Tom M.
says
Falls far short of its artistic pretensions. Anna Paquin earned her Oscar here, for she acts rings around her castmates. If the film were entirely her footage, it would rate four stars. As it is, it is one of the slowest, most boring films ever shot.