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The Piano, 1993

The Piano

English, British Sign Language, Maori

Australia, New Zealand, France

Rating:7.5
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Profile of The Piano

The Piano can be described as gloomy, captivating, and sexual. The plot revolves around human nature, a love triangle, and misfits. The main genres are drama, independent, and romance. In terms of style, The Piano stars a strong female character. In approach, it is serious and realistic. The storytelling is slow paced. The Piano is located in New Zealand. It takes place in the 19th century. The soundtrack is classical. The Piano has received attention for being a modern classic, a Golden Globe winner, and a Cannes festival winner. It is well suited for a girls' night. Note that it involves strong violent content, nudity, and violent content.

Summary of The Piano

This controversially erotic film from New Zealand established screenwriter-director Jane Campion as a universally recognized talent. Holly Hunter stars as Ada, a mute 19th-century woman sent to New Zealand in an arranged marriage with a patriarchal landowner (Sam Neill). She brings along her daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin), and tries to also bring her beloved piano, much to the consternation of her new husband, who abandons the piano on a beach. Artistically and emotionally frustrated, Ada finds herself experiencing an erotic awakening when Baines (Harvey Keitel), an illiterate settler covered with Maori tattoos, rescues her piano, buys it from her husband, then strikes a strange bargain with Ada that gradually leads to her sexual awakening--and to an explosive confrontation.

Jaw-droppingly beautfiul with its purple and green palette of untamed New Zealand scenery, THE PIANO is both a ravishing love story and a psychosexual fairy tale on a par with WUTHERING HEIGHTS and JANE EYRE. Featuring a haunting piano score by Michael Nyman and brilliant performances, THE PIANO is a masterpiece, considered one of the best films of the 1990s.

Details

Language: English, British Sign Language, Maori
Country: Australia, New Zealand, France
Release date: October 1993
Runtime: 121 min
Awards: Cannes,Academy Awards

Awards

Holly Hunter for Best Actress at the 1993 Academy Awards
Jane Campion for Best Original Screenplay at the 1993 Academy Awards
Anna Paquin for Best Supporting Actress at the 1993 Academy Awards
Holly Hunter for Best Actress at the 1993 Cannes
Awarded Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes

Cast and Crew

Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath in The Piano
Holly Hunter

as Ada McGrath

Harvey Keitel as George Baines in The Piano
Harvey Keitel

as George Baines

Photos

The Piano (1993)
The Piano (1993)
The Piano (1993)
The Piano (1993)

Clips

The Piano
The Piano: Official Trailer

Critics Reviews

Variety
The Piano confirms Campion as a major talent, an uncompromising filmmaker with a very personal and specific vision.
Entertainment Weekly
By the end, Campion views all her characters with a compassion bordering on grace, a humanity-like her heroine's-as dark, quiet, and enveloping as the ocean.

Users Reviews

SPOILER ALERT.......A Scottish woman and her daughter are sent off to New Zealand in an arranged marriage. She cannot speak, she uses sign language and also her daughter translates. This Scottish woman is an accomplished pianist, and...
heavy but very good
This period drama is quite heavy, serious and gloomy, but it's also gripping. Curiously enough it's really sweeping even though the pace is slow. The acting is wonderful and overall I highly recommend it, as long as you're not looking for something...
Likely to see
Not for me

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