The Piano - Review

Originally reviewed March 05, 2023

5/5

Jane Campion has always been a director I wanted to watch, but for some reason, I never got around to it. So, when my film professor assigned The Piano this past weekend, I jumped at the opportunity.

In this picture, we follow a mute pianist named Ada (Holly Hunter) as she moves to New Zealand after an arranged marriage. Her new husband, played by the incredibly talented Sam Neil, is a stubborn and traditional landowner. Once she arrives at her new home, Ada meets George Baines (Harvey Keitel), the man who ultimately wins her affection. At first, the relationship between Ada and Baines seemed uncomfortably transactional, but as the movie progressed, I found my tune changed. Baines never rushes Ada, and he ultimately cares for her on a more intimate level than her own husband does.

The film plays with a lot of themes through its 2-hour runtime. The ones that stood out to me on this viewing emphasized feminine desire and sexual repression. These are themes that I have never seen examined from this point of view before in film. I attribute a lot of this to the directorial vision of Campion. A male director would not have had the eye to shoot this in a way that appeals to the female gaze while also building sexual tension in a meaningful, sensual way. Ada has power, even without words, and it is hers to give. Campion utilizes brilliant symbolism here as well. The main symbol is the entitled piano itself. It represents an old life that Ada is holding onto. It also takes on a different meaning of rebirth in the film's final act. On a different note, the shots here are all gorgeous and purposeful. One shot of Ada's hands playing her piano inside its crate is absolutely stunning.

All of the performances here are incredibly well-realized, but Hunter stands out. She brings so much life and emotion to the silent Ada. While she is given some voice-over, it is only used at the beginning and end of the film. Otherwise, Hunter is restricted to creating this character physically, and she succeeds. Ada is an engaging and sympathetic protagonist. Originally, I was caught off-guard by Keitel's character and casting. However, after viewing and reflecting, I see his casting has a purpose. It becomes evident if you compare him to Neil's character. Neil is a conventionally attractive man by Hollywood standards, but Ada falls for the gruff Keitel. Why? It is simple. Keitel is attractive. Firstly, if my girlfriend has taught me anything, it's that women find men attractive in a different way than men think they do. In other words, Keitel is more suited to the female gaze. He also genuinely cares for Ada, so of course he earns her love. Neil does not even try to care. He expects love to be given to him without even making an effort. Ana Paquin plays Ada's daughter, and I was never entirely sure if I liked her performance. I initially attributed it to her being a child, but now I believe she is only ever as annoying as the script asks her to be.

When I started writing this review, I was honestly unsure if I liked Campion's The Piano, but 500 plus words later, I must admit that this may be one of my new favorite films and directors.