The Piano (film review)
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2014
- I'm back! After a long absence, I am returning with a huge new cycle of reviews for you, starting with Jane Campion's beautiful, riveting film The Piano.
The Piano has astounding performances, a wonderful score by Michael Nyman and an engrossing plot containing themes of love and obsession. It's also a problematic film (especially for feminist viewers like myself), due to the strong, deliberate current of exploitation running throughout it, but this disconcerting vibe makes it all the more intriguing, and films are supposed to challenge us and make us think differently (in this case, about romance).
(Note: The use of copyrighted material in this video is permitted by fair use laws for the purposes of criticism and review.)
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I felt so uncomfortable while watching Baines pretty much extort her in exchange for the piano keys. After these scenes, I couldn't accept him as a love interest. Just no... Frankly, I didn't like any of the characters. I know that maybe I'm not supposed to but that doesn't mean I'm supposed to like the movie either...
No I felt exactly the same way watching it!
yes!! I can’t believe some say it was “mutual” and that the husband ends up being the only bad guy when both of them were shit.
@sandra dani the husband was actually fine and a lot more accepting in his time period to try and love a mute, unwed mother. He made some bad comments but he literally wanted to love her and her to love him back. He only became bad because the plot needed him to be to push this other, uncomfortable, love interest who sexually assaulted her numerous times.
You don't have to like Baines or the romance but I think yall are missing so much subtext. Sam Neil's character does not view her as a person, but a possession. The first time we see him he is using his only picture of her as a mirror. He leaves her "voice" on the beach and then sells it without asking. When she tries to connect through touch, exploring his body, he is never able to relinquish control. He is never able to overcome his desire to possess her. Baines, on the other hand, lets her go when he realizes it's wrong to coerce her. It's only after this moment that she returns his affection.
It was just disgusting.
I,m surprised you didn't mention the breathtaking cinematography.
That truly puts us in the heart of the action.
The cinematography, the colors, the use of shadows, the choice of shots are off the charts.
There can be long gaps between Quantumjoker reviews but when we get a new one goddamn is it worth the wait!
Nothing on Anna Paquin's terrific first time on film performance?
TS Xtina totally
I felt like Harvey Kietel felt love for her the instant he laid eyes on her.
He says of the Piano. "She needs it! She must Have It!" and that one little scene showed me which man was capable of worshipping her as the Goddess she is. Every woman wants a man who will do the impossible for her. Her husband, to whom she was SOLD, says with disgust "she's small, i didn't know she would be so small". with that conversation, we already know who is the better man.
i Love the story.
For me the piano represents the main character
I see it rather as Ada's second half, the mean for her to talk, to dooth her own soul in such grim place and weather.
Stuart was and at the same time was not a man of his time .He was tolerant to a point of ada and willing to take a chance (a mute women and a unwed mother who we can assume was probably well into her 20's to early 30's) and wanted to understand her and lover her but unable to in many ways and she him as well. But I would imagine from what the film seemed to imply was Ada was probably coerced into the marriage by her parents to begin with. I do feel like it is a love story it is a very realistic love story raw and real life with real life dilemmas not that mushy shit like you usually find.I am also glad that they did not touch on her Muteness because for some reason I feel like this is a sort of tactic is used to much in modern film it is like film disability sympathy propaganda nowadays that makes up take unnecessary pity and patronisation on the cairictures and real life people who may suffer from them which can be insulting to some.like a gay love story for example .the focus should not be so much about the lovers being gay and being made to play the victim .It should not be the focus of ones identity and the prejudice one faces due to it ,in life or in film it should be about the people (lovers) involved and there journeys for better or ill and the piano captured that. And I believe there has been as of yet only one Gay themed love story that also played on this Idea as well were the lovers being gay was not a issue or a real premise of the whole movie but sadly I forget the title but it was a german film that came out a couple of years ago. Any way a grate movie and certainly a watch. Ps. the sets and costumes were amazing it was literally like daguerreotype Photographs of the 1850's brought to life on screen .For a historical costume drama /love story I give it 99% in all.
Not to say it isn't a brilliant movie (one of the best romances ever really), but this movie is sometimes soft core porn disguised as a moody period piece.
The motives of the men in the film are dark and self serving regardless of what they may develop into by the end.
Let's break down some plot points shall we?
Ada insults the skipper's vessel (and by extension the skipper) that brought her despite the crew breaking their backs to haul her piano when he asks her a seemingly reasonable question. This establishes her character immediately as being selfish, spoilt and generally ungrateful for other people's efforts (and this behaviour is further exhibited with how she treats the members of her household). Out of practicality, Alisdair elects to leave the piano as he believes it's too heavy. Ada insists George take her back to the piano where he sees how much it means to Ada and realises he can use it to manipulate her. Alisdair having seen Ada playing a table as if it were a piano, somewhat understandably questions whether she's in full possession of her faculties. George makes Alisdair an offer for the piano which Alisdair selfishly agrees to.
Alisdair, while being "a product of his time" does not impose himself on his new bride while Ada makes no effort to bond with him. George, pretending he wishes to learn piano lures Ada to him. He then proceeds to get a bit.. rapey. Instead of reporting George's behaviour to her husband, she agrees to basically prostitute herself in exchange for her piano. George proceeds to get creepier and creepier. He then changes tact when he realises he'd like her to like him back and uses emotional manipulation instead of material manipulation. He gives her back the piano and has a good old sulk because she doesn't love him. Now she has her piano she decides she actually likes him despite their entire relationship thus far consisting of nothing more than blackmail for sexual favours, so she goes and sleeps with him.
Discovering this, Alisdair becomes jealous and gets a bit rapey himself, but he relents because Flora is nearby. After this Alisdair boards up the house (the fact he blocks the door from the outside implies it's to keep Ada in rather than the locals out after them having played Ada's piano) while Ada makes out with herself in the mirror. Then we're fed a plot point completely out of the blue that tells us that Ada sleep walks and plays piano in her sleep followed by a scene where she's seemingly become aroused in her sleep and starts caressing her daughters back. Upon waking she goes to Alisdair where she becomes a bit predatory herself, but as soon as he's awake and willing she goes "Nah!". She later goes back to Alisdair and tries to play with his ass, but he doesn't really like it. He then removes the boards from the house in a bid to show her some trust and ask that she not see George (which she agrees to) and tells her of his hope that she will come to like him.
Ada's immediate response to this is to send a piano key telling George she loves him which she forces her reluctant daughter to deliver. In her belief that allowing her mother to screw George behind Alisdair's back is the wrong thing to do, Flora takes the key to Alisdair. He understandably goes ape, but he takes things too far and cuts off Ada's finger and threatens to cut off more if she keeps seeing George. Alisdair gets a bit rapey again but stops when Ada wakes up (she doesn't seem particularly disgusted or frightened that he was about to do the dirty while she was asleep though). Then Alisdair thinks he's become a telepath! He goes to George, sticks a gun in his face, tells him about his nervous breakdown and tells him to take Ada away with him.
So George does take Ada away and they risk the safety of everyone to take the piano, but then Ada decides she doesn't want the piano, so they cut it loose but Ada gets her foot caught. When she falls into the water, she doesn't struggle leading us to believe she wants to die, but then she decides she doesn't want to die and struggles for her life. Then her and George live happily ever after and she's got a metal finger now.
Everything about the character interactions in this film baffles me. Ada seems to care only for the piano (and maybe Flora, but this isn't made a big deal of) and shuts everyone out. That is until George tries to force himself on her. That alone should have been enough to drive her away or at least make her wary of him, but instead she negotiates with him! She completely shuts out Alisdair until he forces himself upon her in the forest. A couple of scenes later she's basically molesting him while he sleeps! Why was she kissing herself in the mirror? Why was she playing with Alisdair's ass and why did him not being into it seem to be the final nail in the coffin of their relationship? Did I miss the part where the film explored her ass fetish and established that this was something George let her do? What's the message here? The best way to win someone's heart is sexual assault and manipulation? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?
I can understand praise for the cinematography and quality of the production in general, but I don't understand how this film has garnered the praise it has because it makes absolutely no sense (and not in a purposeful way).
you took every single word out of my mouth. i just finished this movie and how horrible.
This! I only watched parts of this film in high school, for music class, so had no idea what the film is about. Now I'm halfway through watching the whole film and already the characters and story are disgusting. Perhaps the rape-to-love story might work if Ada and George were likeable characters, but they're not - she's selfish, entitled and ungrateful and he's a blackmailing rapist. Ew.
Exectlly my thoughts. Entitled, impulsive, never satisfied Ada was truly not likable from the very begging. She loves the piano more then her own Daughter, Wich She does not hasitate to abandone in a strange And hostile forest And then prefers to die with a piano while her little Daughter Is on boat with complete strangers And a rapist. No wonder the Daughter bounded with Alister So quickly.
Well, the movie Is a lot about lust And I understood it the way that George has awaken her sexuality, Wich Is very strong And irresistable Impulse to her - And She Always acts on impulses without any thinking of consequences As we can see throughout of the whole movie. It Is Also the only way exept the piano to express And feel powerfull.
just saw it re shown in the cinema last night. agree the ending should have had the last shot of the paint and the scene that brought it to its location but cut out the happy bit between
Welcome back! Great to see you review stuff again. Yea, I saw this movie a little while ago, and it really is excellent. Could you please review Godzilla 2014 soon please? I know you liked it, but I still would like to see a full review of it. Thanks! Kampai!
I remember when it first came out. All anyone could talk about was Harvey Keitel naked.
luvs itttt
Four stars? You dandy.
One of the best movies ever made. I keep coming back to this one again and again.
Bit of a man’s reading of the film isn’t it? There’s not a doubt the seduction was mutual.
Thank you for saying it, it Is not a love Story, it Is a seduction story. Not just from the Beins part, but Also from the side of Aida. She was more "in love" with the piano then with Beins or her own Daughter. You can see that throughout the movie And especially in the end (where in one point She prefers piano And death over new life with Beins And her daughter). Doesn't seem like a "happy end". Calling it "enchanting love Story" Is creepy and does not reflect these moments where She, despite being with Beins, isn't happy.
You described very well the male characters, but what about Aida? She comes off as impulsive, entitled, lust driven And selfish person. She rarely acts logically or think of the consequences of her actions. And even thouth She makes ppl around her suffer, all She cares about Is her lust (represented by piano). Everyone around her Is shown working hard And serving her, yet She herself Is never working (Wich Is NOT how even rich women lived at that time!) And often times express anger more then gratitude (no matter her piano Is too heavy on The backs of Maories, the barbariens ar not carrying it properly!). The ending And her "calming" thoughts of suicide Is Also interesting part to analyse.
I don't think She was disgusted by her husband, it seemed more like through Beins, She discovered her own sexuality and then finally expressed some power over her husband in quite dominant erotic moments. She was Also determinated to stay with him, despite the fact doors were open.
Your commentary sounds heartless, cruel.and without empathy. She was vulnerable, defenseless. She was a woman treated like an object sold and a victim of horrible cruelty even from birth. She could only connect with music, was special needs, mute, autistic and a sevon. You sound like a horrible person.
@@lizarosa156 Cruelty from birth? Authistic?! 😂 Do you even know what does that mean? Based on what Are you saying She was a victim of horrible Cruelty from birth?
We Now nothing about her childhood! We can just see She was from a rich family, surrended by maids, got a bastard daughter Wich She was allowed to raise And AGREED on the marriage. Doesn't sound Like her family threated her bad at all, especially considering the time. Its seems to be the other way - She acted spoiled And without consideration.
Yes, She was mute And connected through music And yes, It's hard. Doesn't justify all her actions. Trauma And disability Is one thing, Nasty behaviour other. What Is So hard to understand? She's not the worst, But has her faults for sure.
SPOILER ALERT - For one thing, why hasn't anyone mentioned the fact that the daughter lies habitually throughout the story, or even that Baines was found IN BED with the daughter when the final confrontation began, and no one so much as batted an eye?
And no one figured out that Ada actually DIED, and did NOT break free from the rope?!
Well, for one... because it isn't true.
The ending we see is the ending we get.
Ada choose to start a new life with Baines.
And what do you insinuate with the daughter, "Flora," sleeping next to Baines after being traumatized for seeing her mother's finger being severed?
The Piano is not a good movie. It is not as good as the world says it is! The reason why it is R rated is because of the sex scenes. How can a movie with music in it be R rated like this? Why is it okay to have a kid in an R rated movie like this? The Piano is having people criticize and gossip about each other so the movie will get away with not being criticized and only receive positive comments! Well, guess what! This movie does not deserve the love or the positive comments it gets! This movie sucks! One of the reasons this movie got awards and nominations is because of the sex scenes and music in it! That was not okay for this movie to exist! The Piano is an awful movie! People only like this movie because of the sex scenes! I will make sure this movie is criticized, gossiped, ridiculed, and be rattled about like it had people do that to each other! I will destroy this movie like it had people do that to each other! The Piano is a menace of film history! The Piano is a bad movie! It is worse than Purple Rain! This movie blames criticisms on people and other films that are better than this film! This movie is not and never will be better than any other films in film history! How could people like this overrated garbage movie?!
Nothing on Anna Paquin's terrific first time on film performance?