Review of The Piano Teacher (2001) by Jasone. — 05 Jun 2007

Confrontations with ones emotional hollowness and inability to engage in physical love doesn't get more harrowing than in Haneke's typically masochistic study of incomplete individuality and the facades we publicly offer to assure ourselves of a full life.

Despite existing in a world of gorgeous, soulful music that stirs the heart, an instructor finds herself incapable of communicating with the smallest amount of grace and decency in order to assist her frazzled students.

Should it be a surprise then, that something more than failure is met when a chance at a meaningful physical connection is offered. Despite veering off in a foolish and stagy extremes during its last few minutes, this is an believably inexorable experience.

Huppert is perfectly suited, with her severe brow and her uncanny introverted instincts, like Nathalie Baye, to play women who succeed in wringing out every last potentiality of pain in her characters.

However, I did disapprove of Magimel's casting as he leering eyes lasciviously undress 'Erika' from the onstart. Klemmer's character should be aware of his uncommon talents but more oblivious to his sexiness and charms.

Then, his longing for 'Erika' and its eventual unraveling would have been doubly heart-renderingly tragic - for him as well as for her.