Many films today are overproduced with many many many things going on that they are hard to follow. Every once in a while, we see a film that takes us back to old times where the scenes from a film were simple yet unique. "The Piano" is one such film that uses simple ideas, simple sets, and a simple plot to make a fairly enjoyable story.

The Piano is a type of film that leaves you with a weird feeling. It's very different and the way the characters go about the way they act and speak easily demonstrates they are from a very different time and place than we are. Usually I don't talk about plots too much in detail, but since there are no real surprises in the film, I will tell you a little about it. Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin have both been sent to what seems to be a deserted island. The sit there on the a very gray and simple beach that could very much describe the whole feeling of the movie right there. They have brought along belonging, the most obvious one being a piano. Holly Hunter's character does not speak since her husband was killed years ago. She speaks through her piano, which I believe is a very artistical way of putting it. Hunter's character has been put into an arranged marriage to Sam Neill. Sam Neill plays a man who is without much emotion or real love. Anyway, one day a neighbor hears of her piano and enjoys listening to it so much that he trades Sam Neill for her piano. She gets upset and the only way she now can get back her piano is by prostituting herself to the man who bought the piano, played by Harvey Keitel. While "meeting" with this man she finds out he has a heart behind his evil proposal to her.

As you can see the story is fairly simple and kind of a weird one. Yet the greatness of the movie comes from the artistry of it. That is what I enjoyed the most. All the scenes, complimented by the interesting dress and the haunting woods that the characters live in, are very artistically done. The wonder in the film is not the plot but yet the cinematography of it.

The acting is also very well done. Holly Hunter is very lady like. She doesn't speak in the movie, for reasons I noted above but I also know in real life she has a really bad southern accent so it would probably mess up the beauty of the movie is she said anything :) ......... I had heard that Anna Paquin was nominated for an Oscar for this film, one of the youngest ever to be nominated. It turns out that she acts true to her nomination. Her performance is probably the most interesting to watch. She plays it with great emotion and reality, alot for her a girl her age. She's very cute and her presence on screen is a wonder to watch as she takes away most of the big parts of the film from her older counterparts.

The film does have one violent scene that takes you by surprise that was difficult to watch. There are also other scenes with full frontal male nudity. I would not recommend this for anyone too immature. It isn't that bad but mixed in with a very artistically and slow movie, it might not be exciting for young people. This film though is good because it touches on new emotions you might not have felt before. The director seems to direct the film as if here were painting a 15th century painting. It's fascinating film for art lovers out there.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age