6.7/10
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Madame Sousatzka (1988)

PG-13 | | Drama, Music | 14 October 1988 (USA)
Madame Sousatzka Poster
Renowned Russian piano teacher Irina Sousatzka gets a new student - Bengali piano prodigy Manek. They are both immigrants in the UK and bond quickly. When Manek's single mother's business fails, he must make a career decision.

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writers:

Bernice Rubens (from the novel by), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay) | 3 more credits »

Stars:

Shirley MacLaine, Navin Chowdhry, Peggy Ashcroft | See full cast & crew »
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From $2.99 (SD) on Prime Video

ON DISC
Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shirley MacLaine ... Madame Sousatzka
Peggy Ashcroft ... Lady Emily
Twiggy ... Jenny
Shabana Azmi ... Sushila
Leigh Lawson ... Ronnie Blum
Geoffrey Bayldon ... Mr. Cordle
Lee Montague ... Vincent Pick
Robert Rietty Robert Rietty ... Leo Milev
Navin Chowdhry ... Manek Sen
Greg Ellis ... Tarek
Sam Howard Sam Howard ... Edward
Jeremy Sinden Jeremy Sinden ... Woodford
Roger Hammond ... Lefranc
Mohammed Ashiq Mohammed Ashiq ... Sunil
Carol Gillies Carol Gillies ... Sousatzka's Mother
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Bengali Sushila Sen and her son, Manek, relocate from India to London after Sushila's relationship with her husband fails. Sushila struggles with everyday living. A child piano prodigy, Manek's schoolteacher refers him to a piano teacher, Irina Sousatzka, a Russian immigrant renowned for her teaching skills. Irina forms a strong bond with Manek, not only teaching him piano but also valuable life lessons. Disagreements arise, as Manek does not want anyone to run his life for him, but nevertheless the training progresses. Sushila, a baker and seller of Indian cuisine, loses an important client after her hair is found in one of her baked goods. To help his mother, Manek feels pressure to use his piano skills to earn some money. This is against Irina's wishes, however, as she is trying to protect Manek from her own negative experiences as a young concert pianist. She believes no student should perform until they are ready. But Manek, encouraged by a pushy music agent, decides to perform ... Written by Laura

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

piano | teaching | teacher | student | chips | See All (26) »

Taglines:

I teach not only how to play, but how to live.

Genres:

Drama | Music

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1988 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Madame Sousatzka, a Professora See more »

Filming Locations:

The Heathland School, Hounslow, Middlesex, England, UK
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,548,238
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex-Odeon Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Vanessa Redgrave was originally signed for "Madame Sousatzka" but left before production began. John Schlessinger then turned to Jeanne Moreau before opting for Shirley Maclaine. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Secret Agent Super Dragon (1993) See more »

Soundtracks

Impromptu No.4
Written by Franz Schubert
Performed by Elizabeth Hayes
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Widescreen release on DVD
See more »

User Reviews

 
For lovers of classical piano
9 March 2000 | by tomsims1 – See all my reviews

I can see how this movie would not be for everyone. However, it worked beautifully for me. It was a wonderful contrast of a renowned piano teacher who becomes too attached to her young prodigy. The story was a wonderful juxtaposition of classical performances, along with a study of the people involved. The story develops simultaneously with the evolution of the main charactors, and the acting was first rate. You don't have to love classical piano to enjoy this, but it probably helps. It is a fine story with many layers and I give it a thumbs up.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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