 |
The Piano
Teacher
directed by Michael Haneke Review by Gary W. Tooze |
|
|
Its
hard to know what to think of the 2001 film La Pianiste on first
viewing. I was taken back by much of the perverse, harsh and desperate behavior
on screen, but also had a very strong sense that it was restrained...
un-sensationalized... certainly in as tactful manner as could be done within
the confines of the subject, an abjectly cold and disturbed piano teacher.
Isabelle Huppert plays Erika Kohut, a high level piano teacher in Vienna. She lives with her powerfully protective mother (Anne Girardot). We learn that her father is deceased. Aside from sleeping in a bed side-by-side with her mother at night, Erika has other extremely dysfunctional predilections. She has bizarre self indulgent sexual practices and we voyeuristically view her performing them. Shot with many close-ups, director Haneke explores a deep rooted psychological drama, backed with graceful Schubert music. The central character of Erika was expertly played by Huppert who was awarded best actress at Cannes. |
||
 |
 |
|
|
Erika is lonely and isolated, but not powerful enough to allow her to flee her demons. We never become aware of the origin of this psychosis but with a brief mention of a father and the relentlessly domineering mother, my own view was that she was abused as a child. In the overall sensibility it really doesn't matter.. only that this woman is injured... scarred mentally, and with obvious self-loathing to desire physically abuse. She cannot adhere to a healthy loving relationship. |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
The irony of Erika's perversities is the graceful surrounding of noble music and culture
and is one of the more compelling attributes of the film. My only complaint would be the uneven
characterization of her love interest Walter (Benoît Magimel). His love
and attempted transition to suit her desires seems too unprepared and
rapid for his presumed manner. Regardless, Huppert is riveting enough
for all and it is definitely a film that will stay with you. I enjoyed
it very much. |
||
 |
 |
|
| DVD and Film Details | ||
 |
The DVD quality
is very good. The picture quality is exceptionally clear as is the
wonderful sound but the disc is quite bare of extras. Four trailers are
included, but no commentary, interviews or documentary as on the R2
version. It has nice interactive menu's but since the film itself
screams for discussion it is a shame that that not more effort was put
into this release. I give it
out of  |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
||
|
Full Cast and Crew for Pianiste, La (2001) Directed by Michael Haneke Writing credits Michael Haneke Elfriede Jelinek (novel) Cast (in credits order) Isabelle Huppert .... Erika Kohut Annie Girardot .... The Mother Benoît Magimel .... Walter Klemmer Susanne Lothar .... Mrs. Schober Udo Samel .... Dr. Blonskij Anna Sigalevitch .... Anna Schober Cornelia Köndgen .... Mme Blonskij Thomas Weinhappel .... Baritone Georg Friedrich .... Man in drive-in Philipp Heiss .... Naprawnik William Mang .... Teacher Rudolf Melichar .... Director Michael Schottenberg .... Teacher Gabriele Schuchter .... Margot Dieter Berner .... Singing teacher Volker Waldegg .... Teacher Martina Resetarits .... Teacher Annemarie Schieinzer .... Teacher Karoline Zeisler .... Teacher Liliane Neiska .... Secretary Luz Leskowitz .... Violinist Viktor Teuflmayr .... Pianist Vivian Bartsch .... Woman in drive-in Florian Koban .... Pupil Thomas Auner .... Haydn pianist Produced by Yvon Crenn .... executive producer Christine Gozlan .... executive producer Veit Heiduschka .... producer Michael Katz (V) .... executive producer Cinematography by Christian Berger Film Editing by Nadine Muse Monika Willi Casting by Markus Schleinzer Production Design by Christoph Kanter Set Decoration by Hans Wagner (II) Costume Design by Annette Beaufays Makeup Department Françoise Andrejka .... makeup artist Fabienne Bressan .... hair stylist Ellen Just .... makeup artist Thi-Loan Nguyen .... key makeup artist Michael Oppl .... special makeup effects artist Waldemar Pokromski .... special makeup effects artist Production Management Roman Haschberger .... unit production manager Michael Katz (III) .... production manager Gebhard Zupan .... production manager Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Katharina Biró .... assistant director Fritz Noltmann .... assistant director Hanus Polak Jr. .... first assistant director Art Department Peter Ecker .... props Katrin Huber .... property master Fritz Martan .... construction coordinator Hannes Salat .... props Peter Wenhardt .... scenic artist Sound Department Pascal Chauvin .... foley artist Jean-Pierre Laforce .... sound Nadine Muse .... sound editor Guillaume Sciama .... sound Special Effects by László Kovács (II) .... special effects coordinator Hans Wagner (II) .... special effects Visual Effects by Geoffrey Kleindorfer .... visual effects Other crew Roman Haschberger .... location manager Andreas Kispert .... assistant location manager Ulrike Lässer .... production coordinator Jörg Widmer .... steadicam operator |
Technical
Information
Release Information: Aspect Ratio: Discographic Information:
Edition Details: • 12 Chapters • Interactive menus
|
|
out of
