IMDb > The Piano (1993)
The Piano
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The Piano (1993) More at IMDbPro »

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The Piano -- A mute woman along with her young daughter, and her prized piano, are sent to 1850s New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, and she's soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation.
The Piano -- kino-zeit.de - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   27,993 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 49% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Jane Campion (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Piano on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 November 1993 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Plot:
A mute woman along with her young daughter, and her prized piano, are sent to 1850s New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, and she's soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 54 wins & 25 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(206 articles)
Chapman, Pearlman join Acmi board
 (From Encore Magazine. 1 September 2010, 5:55 PM, PDT)

All-women jury at 12th Mumbai film fest
 (From RealBollywood. 1 September 2010, 3:19 AM, PDT)

Flashback: Best of the 90s (Pt. 2)
 (From FilmExperience. 30 August 2010, 11:09 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Powerful communication without words. See more (206 total) »

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Holly Hunter ... Ada McGrath

Harvey Keitel ... George Baines

Sam Neill ... Alisdair Stewart

Anna Paquin ... Flora McGrath
Kerry Walker ... Aunt Morag
Geneviève Lemon ... Nessie (as Genevieve Lemon)
Tungia Baker ... Hira

Ian Mune ... Reverend
Peter Dennett ... Head Seaman
Te Whatanui Skipwith ... Chief Nihe
Pete Smith ... Hone
Bruce Allpress ... Blind Piano Tuner

Cliff Curtis ... Mana
Carla Rupuha ... Heni - Mission Girl
Mahina Tunui ... Mere - Mission Girl
See more »
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Piano Lesson" - Japan (English title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for moments of extremely graphic sexuality.
Runtime:
121 min
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The last movie Nirvana Frontman Kurt Cobain watched before he died.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When the boat leaves the island, Ada trails her hand in the water, which is still and calm. On long shots, it is foaming from the action of the oars, and the boat on the water.See more »
Quotes:
Stewart:Where's your mother? Where's she off to?
Flora:TO HELL!
See more »
Soundtrack:
The Heart Asks Pleasure First/The PromiseSee more »

FAQ

How does the movie end?
How did George Baines come to possess the piano?
What is the meaning of that final scene?
See more »
6 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
Powerful communication without words., 7 January 2004
Author: csac6590astrid from Innsbruck, Austria



"The Piano", directed by Jane Campion, is a haunting film about love, passion, betrayal and refusal set in the 19th century. Ada (Holly Hunter), sent to New Zealand on an arranged marriage, arrives with her daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) and her precious piano on a stormy gray beach. Her husband Stewart (Sam Neill) leaves her beloved piano on the beach after having decided that it is too heavy to transport it inland. He does not recognize what this means to the mute Ada, who expresses her emotions with the "voice" of her piano. Baines (Harvey Keitel), who has taken on Maori ways, is deeply moved by Ada and her "voice". He gives Stewart a piece of land in exchange for the piano and offers Ada a deal to earn it back.

Repulsed by Baines' crude appearance, Ada reluctantly accepts the deal to play the piano in his hut while he does "things". Submerged erotic desires and passion slowly set free between the unlikely pair during the piano sessions. Both Baines and Stewart become obsessed by Ada's powerful, intensely suggestive form of unuttered communication. Completely bewildered, Stewart asks Baines if had ever heard Ada speak a single word to him, claiming that he could hear her voice in his mind.

The breathtaking, beautiful imagery as well as its stirring music (Michael Nyman) contribute to the romantic, mystifying atmosphere of the film. "The Piano" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Oscars for Best Actress (Holly Hunt), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin), and Campion's screenplay. Holly Hunter's outstanding performance conveys impressively a woman's ability to express herself without words. "The Piano" is one of the best films I have seen so far.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Piano (1993)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The OTHER piano key potato2
slow and aweful? l_pacione
Things You Didn't Notice Until Multiple Viewings of The Piano kathgray_k
This movie is CREEPY hoot-16
Unflattering portrayal of Maoris? MisterDalliman
About Academy Awards studentpro3
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