Film Review: The Piano

Music and passion through silence

The Piano is a drama movie directed by European director Jane Campion. It was shown in 1993 in New Zealand. The film depicts the story of a mute pianist and her daughter. It was set during the mid-19^th century.

The movie tells the story of Ada McGrath, a mute woman, whose father fixed her marriage to Alastair Stewart. She was shipped to New Zealand together with her young daughter Flora, Ada’s offspring with her teacher. The film then followed how Ada met Baines, a native and Alastair’s friend, and their relationship. Ada’s husband eventually finds out their hidden business and attempted to end it by cutting Ada’s index finger and killing Baines.

The film’s settings were mainly in the beach, forest, and the village. The weather was mostly cloudy, at times raining, which made the mood cold and gloomy. The movie was character-driven, having Ada and the people around her the main focus of the film.

The mise-en-scene was also done well. It used a natural set which made the movie natural and realistic. The set also helped emphasizing the characters’ personalities. The clothes were also appropriate to the movie’s theme. The actor’s performance were also commendable, especially the actress who portrayed Ada because it is hard to play a role of a deaf and mute woman.

The dominant leit motif was the beach. The symbolisms used were the piano, the axe, and Ada’s black dress. The piano was used to be Ada’s means of expression. The piano also symbolized her entire body and her sexuality. It was traded, just like what her father did to her. The axe, which was used to cut her finger, symbolized Alastair’s attempt to end her wife and Baines’ relationship.

Overall, the movie was okay.