Review of The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005) by Celia P — 13 May 2008

THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES.

The Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes(Details here), is the first feature film from the highly stylized and surrealistic directors and animators, the Quay Brothers. Having received massive artistic acclaim for 'Streets of Crocodiles', this film blends their unique animation with live action in a visual feast.

Cesar Saracho plays Fernandez, a humble piano tuner, who is called in by Doctor Droz(Gottfried John) who lives on an island with his 'patients'. Rather than tuning piano's, Fernandez must re-tune automatons that work with the tides, for a coming opera, all is not as it seems however in this surrealist film.

The hauntingly beautiful imagery is the most captivating part of the movie, absolutely stunning visuals that take the audiences breath away. From the mechanical puppetry that is mirrored in the harsh editing of several scenes, to the unique use of camera that brings the viewer into this absurdist vision.

Performance wise, they are quite stylistic, but nothing outstanding, the main focus of the film is on the direction and cinematics which overshadow everything else. The characters are quite interesting as they begin with groundings in reality which soon becomes overturned in the spectacular world the Quay Brothers have created.

The pacing is reasonable, at times it feels slow, but there is plenty of visual treats to keep the audience well entranced. The opera at the end comes somewhat as an anti-climax from all the build up, yet the final few minutes are disturbingly poignant and resonate deeply within the viewer.

The Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes is a welcome introduction to feature films for the Quay Brothers. The cinematography is virtually unrivalled in cinema history, completely enchanting and mesmeric. Whilst the acting could be taken up a notch, and the story seems vague, they all work in favour of this unique surrealist piece. Definitely not one for most audiences, but for those with a love of art and the absurdism, this is completely unmissable.