Review of The Page Turner (2006) by Pj P — 04 Jul 2010

What is it with the French and pianos? Having recently watched â??De battre mon cÅ?ur s'est arêteâ?? and â??La Pianisteâ?? if I was French Iâ??d bloody well make sure that no child of mine went anywhere near one â?? here kid go and play this vuvuzela. And here we go again. One thoughtless act by pianist-judge Ariane Foucherot puts young Melanie off as she auditions for conservatory entrance as a child, ruining her dreams of becoming a pianist. Melanie bears a grudge for years, until, ten years later, as a young woman she exacts revenge. Ariane is a mess, nervous and unstable and you never know what sheâ??s going to do next. Melanie is calculating and self controlled and you never know what sheâ??s going to do next.

I very much like the idea that the cavalier rudeness with which adults customarily treat children can have well-deserved unpleasant consequences. Melanieâ??s life has been ruined (well actually not) so she will ultimately ruin Arianeâ??s. Superb film-making, taut, lean, well shot, well acted and full of menace. Donâ??t expect bloodshed (apart from the spike on the cello condignly applied and as an aside from the main story) and nastys generally, but this is a superior thriller and one of the most satisfying movies Iâ??ve seen in a while.