Director: Jane Campion
Starring: Holly Hunter, Sam Neill, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Kerry Walker
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Certificate: 15
In the wake of the films glorious Blu-ray upgrade, it’s time to revisit the academy award winning classic THE PIANO which believe it or not is now 21 years old. However, you could be forgiven for thinking that the film was released just yesterday as ‘glorious’ is not a term used lightly when referencing this wonderful conversion to the world of high definition. Every frame you feast your eyes upon is gorgeously crisp and focused giving you as the viewer the closest possible experience to actually being in the same room as a young Sam Neill or shockingly adolescent Anna Paquin.
THE PIANO is the story of Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), a mute living in nineteenth Century Scotland who has not spoken a word since the age of 6. Ada and her nine year old daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) are sent to New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy and self-centered man named Alistair Stewart (Sam Neill). Much to the displeasure of Ada her new husband decides to leave her most prized possession on the beach from which she arrived, her Piano. Ada uses her Piano to express herself in the absence of her voice and as a result can not cope without it. In order to win back her Piano Ada makes a deal with a local neighbour named George Baines (Harvey Keitel) to allow him to do certain things to her whilst she plays in exchange for one key per session. The arrangement quickly becomes a passionate and erotic love affair that causes problems for both George, Ada and her daughter Flora.
The strong performances given by Hunter, Neill, Keitel and Paquin are not only mesmerising but also haven’t aged a day. Hunter gives a surprisingly heartfelt and emotional performance despite the fact that she does not say a word throughout the entire narrative, which in itself is worthy of the academy award she acquired for the film. It’s also interesting to go back and view Anna Paquin in her first ever acting role after what seems like a lifetime ago now that many people know her as either Rogue or Sookie Stackhouse. The TRUE BLOOD and X-MEN star certainly has come a long way but it’s easy to see why she earned an academy award for her role as the adorable, energetic and meddlesome daughter of Ada. A standout moment for the actress comes at the climax of the film in what is arguably the narrative’s most harrowing sequence, where Paquin truly shows her talent and foreshadows her long and fruitful career.
Neill and Keitel work well as binary opposites with Neill’s character portrayed as a sophisticated, reserved and insecure man in comparison to Keitel’s rugged, illiterate form of masculinity. The insecurity and possible impotence of Neill’s character leads to him displaying tendencies of scopophilia through disturbingly watching Baines and Ada in their love affair, almost as if he is in insecure in the shadow of a real man. This is one of the many different ways in which THE PIANO effectively conveys lust, passion and desire through often disturbing means. The Piano itself is also instrumental (no pun intended) in representing not only Ada’s voice but also the voice of entire film by crafting wonderful scenes through its music alone. The sound of the Piano is also used during otherwise horrific and disturbing sequences to make them strangely poignant and beautiful, therefore carrying the films heart and soul.
THE PIANO is also shot gorgeously by director Jane Campion by fully utilising the amazing New Zealand scenery and somehow giving the audience something to lovingly gaze at in every single frame of the film. It makes you wonder why Campion is not involved in more high profile productions today and what a great shame it is that she has almost seemingly disappeared. THE PIANO is a magnificent piece of cinema that is both brilliantly acted and directed with quite a few messages to be taken away from it. The emotional and often strange portrayals of desire and passion are certainly enough to stay with you and make you think for quite some time after finishing the film.
[usr=5] THE PIANO will be available from May 19th Blu-ray courtesy of Studiocanal.
