There is so much to be said about The Piano, and besides writing a full essay on it, I won't promise that this review will do it justice. Disclaimer: my rating is as it stands simply because the movie was not necessarily my taste, and I don't believe that it aged incredibly well. That being said, I do think this is a film worth seeing, because of the story it tells. I always want to cheer for characters in films, and found it very hard to do so in this situation; the only one I had complete sympathy for was Anna Paquin's character, and even she was a whiny sort of kid. The performances throughout were incredible, but I did find Harvey Keitel to be stiff; perhaps that was intentional.
I also felt that this movie glorified a relationship that blossomed under the pretense of blackmail; it had vague traces of Stockholm Syndrome written in it's DNA. Jane Campion is not a filmmaker that wants you to feel comfortable while watching her work, and one must understand that before taking the plunge.
Overall, as I said before, this is a movie worth watching. Campions use of the soggy New Zealand forests and beautiful, as well as dangerous, oceans are a testament to her immense talent as a storyteller. She weaves an unforgettable tale with witty dialogue and shocking encounters scattered throughout.
I also felt that this movie glorified a relationship that blossomed under the pretense of blackmail; it had vague traces of Stockholm Syndrome written in it's DNA. Jane Campion is not a filmmaker that wants you to feel comfortable while watching her work, and one must understand that before taking the plunge.
Overall, as I said before, this is a movie worth watching. Campions use of the soggy New Zealand forests and beautiful, as well as dangerous, oceans are a testament to her immense talent as a storyteller. She weaves an unforgettable tale with witty dialogue and shocking encounters scattered throughout.