The Piano Teacher (2001)

A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher.

Director:

Michael Haneke

Writers:

Michael Haneke, Elfriede Jelinek (novel)

Stars:

Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 18 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Huppert	...	Erika Kohut
Annie Girardot	...	The Mother
Benoît Magimel	...	Walter Klemmer
Susanne Lothar	...	Mrs. Schober
Udo Samel	...	Dr. George Blonskij
Anna Sigalevitch	...	Anna Schober
Cornelia Köndgen	...	Mme Gerda Blonskij
Thomas Weinhappel	...	Baritone
Georg Friedrich	...	Man in drive-in
Philipp Heiss	...	Naprawnik
William Mang	...	Teacher
Rudolf Melichar	...	Director
Michael Schottenberg	...	Teacher
Gabriele Schuchter	...	Margot
Dieter Berner	...	Singing teacher

Storyline

Erika Kohut is a pianist, teaching music. Schubert and Schumann are her forte, but she's not quite at concert level. She's approaching middle age, living with her mother who is domineering then submissive; Erika is a victim then combative. With her students she is severe. She visits a sex shop to watch DVDs; she walks a drive-in theater to stare at couples having sex. Walter is a self-assured student with some musical talent; he auditions for her class and is forthright in his attraction to her. She responds coldly then demands he let her lead. Next she changes the game with a letter, inviting him into her fantasies. How will he respond; how does sex have power over our other faculties?

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Plot Keywords:

rape | fellatio | sex shop | hand job | piano instructor | 

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Taglines:

Perversion at its wicked best!

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for aberrant sexuality including violence, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #894.

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Quotes

[first lines]
The Mother: Good evening, child.
Erika Kohut: Evening, mama.
The Mother: [sarcastically] Home already? I'm so happy.
Erika Kohut: I'm going.
The Mother: Not so fast.
Erika Kohut: Please. Leave me be. I'm tired.
The Mother: I can quite believe it. Your last pupil left 3 hours ago. Might I know where you've been all this time?
Erika Kohut: [trying to go to her room] Please.
The Mother: No, you don't. Not until you tell me.
[...]

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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.

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Connections

References The Skulls (2000)

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Soundtracks

Piano Sonata in A Major, D.959
Franz Schubert

User Reviews

"Beauty" isn't necessarily "pretty."

Definitely NOT for the faint-of-heart or for those seeking passive entertainment, this film is a masterpiece of portraiture of a highly talented and disturbed artist – a perfect illustration of the idea that genius is considered but a short step from insanity.

It has been many months since I viewed this film, and I find myself turning the film over in my head quite often. That – to me – is the mark of a well-done film – or any work of art, for that matter.

I have never since seen a prodigiously talented performer without wondering what their day-to-day life and relationships must be like. This film stayed with me despite my revulsion to its "ugliness" – the discomfiture it engenders.

Highly recommended!

Details

Country:

Austria France Germany

Language:

French German

Release Date:

5 September 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

The Piano Teacher

Filming Locations:

Austria

Box Office

Budget:

ATS70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$29,671, 31 March 2002

Gross USA:

$1,012,069

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,765,335

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARTE, Arte France Cinéma, Bavaria Film International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1