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The Piano Teacher

Original title: La pianiste
  • 20012001
  • RR
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,822
144
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Watch ’Bande-annonce [VO]’
Play trailer1:37
1 Video
77 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher.A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher.A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,822
144
  • Director
    • Michael Haneke
  • Writers
    • Michael Haneke
    • Elfriede Jelinek(novel)
  • Stars
    • Isabelle Huppert
    • Annie Girardot
    • Benoît Magimel
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Haneke
  • Writers
    • Michael Haneke
    • Elfriede Jelinek(novel)
  • Stars
    • Isabelle Huppert
    • Annie Girardot
    • Benoît Magimel
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 269User reviews
    • 156Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 18 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [VO]
    Trailer 1:37
    Bande-annonce [VO]

    Photos77

    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Annie Girardot and Udo Samel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    The Piano Teacher (2001)
    The Piano Teacher (2001)
    The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Michael Haneke in The Seventh Continent (1989)
    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)
    Isabelle Huppert and Benoît Magimel in The Piano Teacher (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Isabelle Huppert
    Isabelle Huppert
    • Erika Kohut
    Annie Girardot
    Annie Girardot
    • The Mother
    Benoît Magimel
    Benoît Magimel
    • Walter Klemmer
    Susanne Lothar
    Susanne Lothar
    • Mrs. Schober
    Udo Samel
    Udo Samel
    • Dr. George Blonskij
    Anna Sigalevitch
    Anna Sigalevitch
    • Anna Schober
    Cornelia Köndgen
    Cornelia Köndgen
    • Mme Gerda Blonskij
    Thomas Weinhappel
    • Baritone
    Georg Friedrich
    Georg Friedrich
    • Man in drive-in
    Philipp Heiss
    • Naprawnik
    William Mang
    • Teacher
    Rudolf Melichar
    • Director
    Michael Schottenberg
    • Teacher
    Gabriele Schuchter
    • Margot
    Dieter Berner
    Dieter Berner
    • Singing teacher
    Volker Waldegg
    • Teacher
    Martina Resetarits
    • Teacher
    Annemarie Schleinzer
    • Teacher
    • Director
      • Michael Haneke
    • Writers
      • Michael Haneke
      • Elfriede Jelinek(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Isabelle Huppert really played the piano in the film. She had studied piano for 12 years. As preparation for her role as a piano teacher, she resumed practicing a year before the film was started.
    • Quotes

      Erika Kohut: After all, love is built on banal things.

    • Alternate versions
      The R-rated edition from Kino makes a number of changes and omissions, removing the shots of the hardcore peep booth footage viewed by Huppert's character in the mall, as well as optically pixellating pornographic images on magazine covers in the sex shop. In addition, this version completely removes the following two sequences: -Huppert's cutting sequence in the bathtub -Magimel taking Huppert to the ground and humping her at the hockey rink. In the latter case, the film awkwardly fades out and in again in quick succession, to elide the missing footage.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Sonata in A Major, D.959
      Franz Schubert

    User reviews269

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A Compassionate Film About Twisted People
    To be honest I had to go have a stiff drink after this film; I felt drained and my shoulders were knotted. I also had to talk the whole thing out with the friend I saw it with for a good half hour. Whatever else this movie is, it's not dull - you have to have respect for anything that produces such a visceral reaction, even if you couldn't claim to have 'enjoyed' the experience. (Anyone else I've talked to who's seen it has responded in much the same way.)

    The reason the film is so powerful is not simply because it deals with unpalatable subject-matter like sado-masochism and violently dysfunctional relationships - that on its own would leave no defence against a charge of exploitation. It packs a punch because whatever her deeply ingrained character flaws, however reprehensible her behaviour (and at one point that's VERY), the piano teacher Erika always retains your sympathy - you never forget the type of influences which might have made her what she is, while scenes as subtle as the one where she walks down a street of shoppers, being casually bumped into without apology, remind you of her utter isolation. Isabelle Huppert's performance is as brilliant as it is uncomfortable and I can't even imagine how she might have wound down after a day's filming.

    Appalling, compelling, horribly funny at times, but ultimately deeply despairing look at how people damage each other. View with caution.
    helpful•73
    6
    • Wallace_the_Windows
    • Jan 18, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 5, 2001 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Austria
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • La pianista
    • Filming locations
      • Vienna, Austria
    • Production companies
      • Wega Film
      • MK2 Productions
      • Les Films Alain Sarde
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ATS 70,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,012,069
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $29,671
      • Mar 31, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,766,589
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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