Film: The Piano
Director: Jane Campion
Country: New Zealand
Released: May 1993
Runtime: 117 minutes
Genre: Historical Drama
Studio: CIBY 2000
Influenced: Sofia Coppola, Kelly Reichardt, Greta Gerwig, Lynne Ramsay, Céline Sciamma
Set in the mid-19th century, Jane Campion's The Piano tells the story of Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), a mute Scottish woman who communicates through her piano. She arrives in New Zealand with her young daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) for an arranged marriage to a wealthy local landowner, Alistair Stewart (Sam Neill). The film explores themes of desire, longing and the constraints placed on women of that era. Ada's passionate relationship with George Baines (Harvey Keitel), a local labourer who is fascinated by her piano, forms the central conflict in the movie. The piano itself serves as a symbol of Ada's voice and freedom, as well as a source of tension between the characters.
One of the film's pivotal moments is when Baines offers to trade Ada's piano back to her in exchange for lessons and progressively becomes more involved in her life. Campion took the decision to convey Ada's inner thoughts via the use of voiceover narration, allowing the audience to understand her perspective, while also adding a lyrical quality to the storytelling. The narration also often provides context and background information about Ada's past, her reasons for being mute and her feelings toward the people and events in her life. The poetic narration complements the film's lush visuals, which showcase the stunning natural landscapes and indigenous people of New Zealand. Campion filmed The Piano on the country's North Island, including Karekare Beach, Bethells Beach and the Ngā Manu Nature Reserve, the latter used for the evocative rainforest scenes, including the film's memorable climax.
As well as the narration and scenery, another key element of the film's beauty is the score, composed by Michael Nyman. English composer Nyman is firmly rooted in the minimalist music tradition and his score for The Piano is characterised by its repetitive patterns and simple harmonic structures, which create a hypnotic and emotionally resonant atmosphere. Given the film's title and central theme of a mute pianist, the piano is naturally the primary instrument in Nyman's score. Not only does the music enhance the viewer's understanding of Ada's inner world and her passionate connection with the piano, but it also becomes an essential part of the storytelling, reflecting the characters' emotions and the evolving relationships within the film. In a memorable scene near the end of the film, Ada's piano is placed on a small boat and set adrift on the ocean. In the scene, Nyman's score adds a note of melancholy and a prompting to reflect on Ada's sacrifice and her emotional journey.
The Piano received widespread critical acclaim and was a major success at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. At the 66th Academy Awards in 1994, the film received eight nominations and won three Oscars: Best Actress (Holly Hunter), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) and Best Original Screenplay (Jane Campion). Paquin was only 11 years old at the time, making her one of the youngest Oscar winners in history (and the first Millennial to do so). The Piano also received numerous other prizes and nominations, including Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards and several film festival honours. An important legacy of the film is the way it centred its female narrative, influencing various female directors. Campion's powerful cinematic combination of beautifully realised historical setting, emotionally resonant score and powerful character performances has also been widely imitated since.
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