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Original poster

The Piano (film) AIBU?

28 replies

javelinwatcher · 27/08/2023 20:39

The Piano has been on my radar as a multi-award winning film I've never seen. Recently husband and I decided to watch it. After an hour I said, I don't think I can continue this - and husband said thank god as he was hating every minute. We stopped and I don't think I've ever done that before! I've always managed to see a film out till the end!

I'm shocked at how awful I found it given the high acclaim it had and was wondering if AIBU or can anyone explain what I'm missing?! (If it makes any difference I enjoy watching films of various genres so not easily shocked or anything!)

The storyline of the "piano lessons" made my skin crawl. I felt absolutely repulsed by that man exploiting her and essentially raping her in that way. Then I noticed that the storyline was veering towards her getting feelings for this man... why??? How??? At this point I couldn't watch. Not mention the young girl peeping through the walls. ConfusedEnvy

I read the rest of the synopsis on Wikipedia and I was right that she ends up falling in love with him. Why???!!!! FFS?? I'm shocked given this films amazing reception. Is it just dated? Am I missing something? Was anyone else repulsed??

OP posts:
thatone · 27/08/2023 20:55

That sounds awful. I saw it was on iplayer and considered watching it as I missed it when it first came out. I do remember how acclaimed it was though.

MrsDBaddiel · 27/08/2023 20:58

I loved it when it was released and actually saw a premiere in the cinema, bought the soundtrack cd, tried watching it again about two years ago and couldn’t get past 5 minutes.

Saverage · 27/08/2023 20:59

I love that film. I get what you mean about the storyline though.

rhino12345 · 27/08/2023 20:59

I've never seen it but I know a few people who say it's their favourite film. I watched The Power of the dog last year (same director) - apparently it's very similar. I also found it utterly depressing and got to the end thinking "well there's two hours of my life im not getting back". Although Jesse Plemons (?) was fantastic in it.

MrsDBaddiel · 27/08/2023 21:00

rhino12345 · 27/08/2023 20:59

I've never seen it but I know a few people who say it's their favourite film. I watched The Power of the dog last year (same director) - apparently it's very similar. I also found it utterly depressing and got to the end thinking "well there's two hours of my life im not getting back". Although Jesse Plemons (?) was fantastic in it.

I loathed The Power of The Dog, and there are definitely similarities.

Brightandshining · 27/08/2023 21:02

I love it. I think it's a masterpiece. It was written and directed by a woman. Of course she gets exploited as is fitting of the time period in which it's set. But it's really about her messy complicated sexuality. And her passionate nature despite the limitations and repressions placed on her.
I watched it for the first time in my teens and it left such an impression on me. I re watch it every couple of years. Its so beautiful.

TonTonMacoute · 27/08/2023 21:06

Repulsed? No.

Saw it when it first came out and quite enjoyed it, but it's not really meant to be a fairy story, is it? Women have hard lives, even harder and with fewer choices in the mid 19th century.

Mykittensmittens · 27/08/2023 21:07

As per @Brightandshining - it’s not about the superficial, it’s about the deeper story. It’s told in it’s time which wouldn’t make the subject okay today. It’s telling a story. The story doesn’t have to be comfortable.

The cinematography, the soundtrack, the bleak location and context are a story in itself.

one of my most memorable books was ‘the lovely bones’ - subject matter was awful, story heartbreaking, but beautifully told and totally in my mind.

good doesn’t mean happy.

Spendonsend · 27/08/2023 21:07

Brightandshining · 27/08/2023 21:02

I love it. I think it's a masterpiece. It was written and directed by a woman. Of course she gets exploited as is fitting of the time period in which it's set. But it's really about her messy complicated sexuality. And her passionate nature despite the limitations and repressions placed on her.
I watched it for the first time in my teens and it left such an impression on me. I re watch it every couple of years. Its so beautiful.

I tried to say what you said but much worse, so i will just agree with you.
Its not a comfortable story line.

CrazyArmadilloLady · 27/08/2023 21:12

Lots of movies / stories have uncomfortable themes?

I fell asleep during The Power of the Dog, but DH really enjoyed it.

Isn’t this just a bog standard case of ‘people like different thing’ / people don’t have the same tastes’….?

LindorDoubleChoc · 27/08/2023 21:14

It's all about the piano music and the cinematrography. The narrative doesn't belong in the modern world but then only certain films made in the last 10 years probably do!

I found myself getting a big huffy whilst watching Pillow Talk the other day.

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 27/08/2023 21:15

Its a beautiful, cinematic film with a haunting sound track. Not an easy watch, but the best films rarely are.
Jane Campion often focuses on the exploitation of women, I imagine as one of the few successful female directors of her age, she's seen quite a lot of it.

Davros · 28/08/2023 00:01

Hated it. Never again

HanarCantWearSweaters · 28/08/2023 00:11

It was one of the films studied in English when I was at high school in the mid 2000s.

Original poster
javelinwatcher · 28/08/2023 20:56

Of course films don't have to be easy and I'm a film fan and watch a lot of "challenging" and "intellectual" films (I actually did a degree in it!) but this was different.

For me it felt more like I was being asked to condone rape / sexual assault. As in - films can show uncomfortable moments, assault, etc I get that. But here the abuser was rewarded in the end, and it felt like the viewer was supposed to want the protagonist to marry the abuser and feel happy about it.

OP posts:
madamsapple · 28/08/2023 21:13

I agree OP

Yes the cinematograpghy and the music (I'm a huge Michael Nyman fan) are wonderful, but the story..... from a rapey husband to a rapey boyfriend. :(

SequinsandStiIettos · 28/08/2023 21:34

Arranged marriage/sold like a slave.
Stockholm syndrome or deep physical desire?
I hadn't remembered any telepathy until I wikied it. I, too, thought she'd been abused by her own father hence the selective mutism.
It's a film of its time but some of Bradshaw's re-review rings true and the main song from the soundtrack is beautiful.
The Piano review – Jane Campion's drama still hits all the right notes | The Piano | The Guardian

The Piano review – Jane Campion's drama still hits all the right notes

Rereleased after 25 years, this literary work about a mute woman in 19th-century New Zealand remains full of extraordinary images and enigmas

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/15/the-piano-review-jane-campion-holly-hunter

SequinsandStiIettos · 28/08/2023 21:43

What's worse, having read up on sources 11, 12 from the wiki entry is that Jane Mander had no credit and Campion's Oscar was for original rather than adapted, especially if her original tweaks were the skewed consent parts.

purpleme12 · 08/09/2023 00:59

I thought it was ok, not enthralling, until it got to the violent part. That got me sat up.
That was a hard watch.
A lot of the time I felt like I was watching the film thinking I just don't get it.

But yes I can see what you're saying about the relationship with the one she ended up with.
She went from being obviously uncomfortable with him and what he wanted from her to wanting to have sex with him.

I didn't even realise it was Holly Hunter till the credits!

I can see why Anna Paquin got an Oscar for it.

But I couldn't understand why she went and told 'papa' that her mum wanted her to give the gift to Mr Baines.

Trez1510 · 08/09/2023 01:45

I saw it with a girlfriend when it was released.

I recall telling my (then) husband it had disturbed me on so many levels and I wished I hadn't watched it.

I've never watched it again.

Totallyterrific · 08/09/2023 01:49

I felt exactly like you op - I didnt have a chance to watch it when it was released, watched it last year and was very shocked by it. Yes the piano soundtrack is lovely but beyond that - awful!

Commentsonly · 08/09/2023 02:08

What about ‘The Aviator’ I remember seeing that in the cinema and leaving halfway through. Awful movie

GreenCereal · 08/09/2023 03:33

I had to study it for English at high school (I grew up in NZ) - tried rewatching it recently and couldn't face it!

ThingsWithEyes · 08/09/2023 05:00

Remember watching it with an older friend at the time, and she remarked, "what does that say about women?" I think I get what she was driving at now.

merrymelodies · 08/09/2023 05:24

I remember that I didn't enjoy it at all when it came out.

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