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) |
It is the mid-nineteenth century. Ada cannot speak and she has a young daughter, Flora. In an arranged marriage she leaves her native Scotland accompanied by her daughter and her beloved piano. Life in the rugged forests of New Zealand's North Island is not all she may have imagined and nor is her relationship with her new husband Stewart. She suffers torment and loss when Stewart sells her piano to a neighbor, George. Ada learns from George that she may earn back her piano by giving him piano lessons, but only with certain other conditions attached. At first Ada despises George but slowly their relationship is transformed and this propels them into a dire situation. Written by Patrick Dominick <ptd@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au>
The Piano is a beautiful film in many different respects. In terms of cinematography, I've seen few like it. It is dark and beautiful and compelling. The story seems, on paper, as a torrid love story without much originality. But the sensuous portrayal of Harvey Keitel and Holly Hunter and the complex acting of a young Anna Paquin allow this story to ring true. I was skeptical upon viewing a film so lauded by critics and film snobs, but found myself both moved and connected to the film that holds strangely relevant themes for modern times. It is rare that I love both a film's visual beauty and it's script as well. This is that rare occasion.