Probably the best film of 2018

Rating: 9/10 (15 April 2019)

In hindsight, the character setting of this film is immediately reminiscent of Les Intouchables, but with positions inverted, namely the black man being the one solicits the service and the white man offering it.
Set against the background of 60s in USA, the film approached the racism subject with a different touch. At the beginning of the flick, the Italian-American, working as a bouncer in a night club, was never to think that he would be working for a colored man. As when some repairers of African origin came to his house, his wife called the whole family there in order to guard against the unexpected.
His employer, however, offered a quite handsome recompense and even gave a call to his wife to acquire her consent. After setting off for the south, soon the two have had opportunities to get familiar with each other through hours of highway conversation. Trying to help the Italian get rid of his cheesy habits, the pianist meanwhile was endeavoring to persuade him into pursuing a different way of life. Nonetheless, as the film unfolds, many complicated aspects of this sophisticated pianist are to be revealed.
Brought up in the environment of high culture, the pianist is certainly with a distinct personality from most of his fellow compatriots. On the other hand, he is also alienated by the mainstream Americans because of his complexion, only with the exception when he is performing on the stage. In want of recognition and companion, the inner self of the pianist actually lived in agony, as was proved by his bursting into roaring confession to his driver while they were rushing through the rainy night.
At the end of their journey, the pianist finally stood up for himself by turning down the request of the restaurant where only the white people folks be served. They ducked into a roadside bar and drank with local colored community. Previously in despise of popular music, the pianist even willingly condescended to play for the not-so-educated crowd. The applause that he won from his fellow people is the sign of recognition that he had so long been desiring for.
The film has a quite heart-warming ending, where the pianist drove in the place of the fatigued driver and managed to get back to New York at Christmas Eve. The pianist received the invitation and came to greet the Italian's family. As it turned out, the wife had always been aware of the participation of a ghostwriter, but who would care? The friendship of the duo from different race and social class finally melted down the barriers, and made each one of them benefit and grow from the experience. We would be surprised to find that pianist, who was supposed to be the educator among the two, has also gained more spiritual maturity through their relations. In the end, nurture and nature have reached their best reconciliation.