The Piano (DVD)

The Piano, is a film that tells a story about a young woman’s personal and intimate journey from dependence and oppression to independence and freedom. Set in the nineteenth century, it contrasts the strict female repressed reserve of the married Ada with the eroticism of the Ada bargaining and winning free expression. The film begins as the main character, Scottish Ada McGrath played by Holly Hunter, is transported away from her home to the unknown ...
...a lonely Englishman working in the New Zealand bush. She is accompanied by the two things in her life that are important to her, a piano and her 9 year old illegitimate daughter, Flora played by Anna Paquin. Not just important, but much much more. Ada has not spoken for nine years ever since her lover was killed by lightning. She communicates through her piano and using a unique sign language only understood by her daughter. The piano does not merely ...

MAFARRIMOND 18.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)

...into this movie knowing about the oscars it had won and having been recommended by several friends, I expected something good. As a fan of period films, this movie is set in the 1850's, New Zealand. Ada (Holly Hunter) is a mute who with her young daughter Flora(Ann Paquin) braves the dangerous journey across the world. We see the movie start with them landing with all their belongings, including the priceless piano. Life begins in the leafy forest ...
...Things take a turn for the worse when her new Husband sells her piano a neighbour, George (Harvey Keitel). George however, tells Ada she may earn back her piano by giving him piano lessons. Through the lessons, we see a turbulant but intreging relationship form. This movie wasn't what I expected, yet produced some awesome performances. Inparticular little, Ann Paquin, the devoted daughter and voice of Ada to the outside world puts in a great performance. ...

rafomania 16.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)

The Piano is a haunting and touching film, concerning the move to New Zealand of a Scottish woman and her daughter to be married against her will to a profiteerer. The cinematography is superb, and Holly Hunter and Sam Neill put in a good performance in the roles of man and wife. Perhaps the best performance comes from young Anna Paquin as the girl, who won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role. The soundtrack, by Michael Nyman is a joy ...

peppermint 23.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)

...discovery in New Zealand at the turn of the century, and she succeeds on the level of telling the basic story which is compelling. It's only when she adds slightly surreal and abstract elements that I found it a little pretentious, particularly towards the end. I also found the idea of Holly Hunter using the piano as a communication tool a bit naive, and there was also an anti-male feel to the whole film. Nevertheless it is well told, subtly acted ...

JSpencer 15.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)

The film, The Piano, is a film that tells a story about a young woman’s journey from oppression to freedom. The main character, Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), is sold off in marriage to marry Alisdair Stewart (Sam Neil) and is thus sent away from her home to New Zealand. She is accompanied by her 9 year old daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano. When Ada arrives on the beach of the New Zealand coast she is dressed in black dress ...
...provides a stark contrast with the vast backdrop of the crashing sea and grey skies. Ada has not spoken ever since her lover was killed by lightning. She communicates through her piano and sign language, understood by her daughter. The way in which she uses the piano reflects her mood in a very strong and clear manner. Understandably is then enraged when her new husband refuses to take the piano because it is too too heavy. The piano is rescued by ...

silvajade 27.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)

...it and I didn´t get the idea really! Everything was so black and white in the movie. I saw it once and I was so bored watching it I don´t even remeber what happened there. I remember only the time when some man cut the womans fingers and that´s the only part went in my mind. I think the idea of someone talking throught her music is kinda romantic but not very interesting in a movie when you don´t see what she´s saying becouse the woman, Holly Hunter, ...

Evey 29.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Piano (DVD)