Visually Stunning, Thought Provoking, High Emotional

Rating: 10/10 (27 April 2001)

The Piano is my favorite all-time movie. It is visually stunning, and the score is remarkable. People (men mostly)don't like it because it evokes emotions. It's a very intellectual movie and the contrasts are amazing. Ada (Holly) has been married off to an unknown husband in a new world, by her father. Her husband doesn't understand her and lives in a house that destroys the New Zealand nature much like he destroys that which he does not understand. Baines (Harvey Keitel) understands and wants to know Ada for who she is and he sparks her passion after he is sparked by hers. His house fits into the natural surroundings without destroying it. Two viewings are required to absorb all of the subtleties. Holly and Harvey and Anna are at the top of their form! You must be able to think and empathize with someone in Ada's plight--a woman essentially without choices during an era when women were possessions/cattle--to understand and enjoy this movie. Ada didn't ask to be married to Alisdair. Would you then call it a marriage? If there is no free will? If there is no free will, then is it wrong to leave the marriage? For our puritanical society, with its hangups surrounding absolutes, this movie seems sacrilege, as marriage is an institution that is holy unto itself.
This movie is so different from you typical Hollywood pabulum, that it shocking to many people. I enjoyed it thoroughly through several viewings.