Review of The Piano (1993) by Emma C — 19 Aug 2012

The Piano is a beautiful film because it is experienced with the blood, sweat and piss of life. The Piano is also undeniably oozing with a sensual energy. The film centres on a mute woman called Ada (Holly Hunter) who stops specking at the age of 6. Her voice is robbed by her piano; her soul is stolen and bound with the music. The piano is the only way Ada is truly able to express herself.

Ada is married to a man she has never meet before named Stewart (Sam Neil) who lives in New Zealand. Ada enters into an arrangement of a sexual nature with Baines (Harvey Keitel) to get her piano back. Through this relationship of sensual contact Ada is slowly pulled out of her consuming bond with the music as she falls in love with Baines.

There is mysticism to this film centring on Ada and music. As Aunt Morag says while pissing; "Her playing is strange, she does not play like we do, her playing is like a mood that seeps into you...to have a sound that creeps inside of you isn't very pleasant." Once Stewart learns of Ada's affair his sanity quickly begins to unravel. It is only in his insanity does Stewart find where Ada's voice dwells and it says 'I am afraid of my will it is so strange and strong... I have to go, let me go, let Baines take me away, let him try and save me." There is a fine line between creativity and insanity, which is explored through out The Piano. Ada's will is a reoccurring theme in the film. At the beginning of the film we learn that Ada's father has said that her will is a 'dark talent and the day [she] takes it into [her] head to stop breathing will be her last.' At the end of the film Ada has her piano pushed overboard as Baines, Flora (her daughter) and Ada are returning to the United Kingdom. As the piano goes over she puts her foot in a coil of rope and is drag under the water. Her will chooses life, Ada kicks free and swims to the surface and is reborn. A part of her, however, stays under the water floating above her piano, which becomes her silent lullaby.

None of the characters are perfect they all have their faults, jealousy, arrogance, manipulating and betraying but you come to know and understand all of them. Holly Hunter embodies Ada brilliantly, who is cold and distant character with power dark commanding eyes. Sam Neil and Harvey Keitel play their tortured characters wonderfully. This film is beautifully shot in the New Zealand terrain. The colours are slightly muted which reinforces the sense that everything is covered in dirt but they are also rich and deep.

The Piano reminds us that we slaves are to our bodies, emotions and desires.