The Piano (1993)

The Piano is a spare, intense period drama set in mid-19th century New Zealand. Ada, a mute Scottish woman, arrives with her young daughter Flora and her beloved piano as part of an arranged marriage to a distant settler, Stewart. When Stewart sells the instrument to a local worker, George Baines, Ada agrees to give him lessons under increasingly fraught and intimate terms — a transaction that ignites a slow-burning, transgressive relationship and sets the story on a path of desire, power, and consequence. Watching the film you’ll experience a sensory, almost wordless storytelling: the piano’s music becomes Ada’s voice, carrying emotion the character cannot speak. The landscape — windswept beaches, mud, rain and dense forest — is filmed with haunting beauty and constant physical presence, reinforcing themes of isolation, passion, and survival. The drama is both erotic and brutal, marked by moral ambiguity, quiet desperation, and moments of heartbreaking tenderness. The film is driven by strong performances and a memorable score that lingers long after the final scene. Expect a slow, immersive pace, striking visuals, and an emotional intensity that can be unsettling and deeply moving. Content includes sexual situations, coercion and emotional trauma, so be prepared for mature, challenging material.

Actors: Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill

Director: Jane Campion

Runtime: 121 min

Genres: Drama, Music, Romance

7.4 /10 89 /100 7.5 /10 7.9 /10