I have to disagree

Rating: 1/10 (31 January 1999)

All of my friends think this is a great film, but I find it to be one of the most over-rated films of the 1990's.
'The Piano' is completely lacking in subtlety -- normally a quality a filmmaker wants in a film that is attempting (in this case, committing) symbolism. It hits the audience over the head with its 'meaning'.
And what does it mean? That a man wins a woman's love by treating her horribly and exploiting her mercilessly? That's exactly what happens in this film. Furthermore, Ada is a thoroughly inscrutable and unlikeable character.
I cheered when she was almost drowned, too bad she was rescued . . but even the beautiful cinematography and good cast can't rescue this over-wrought and over-rated film.
Also: did anyone notice that Baines is repeatedly depicted as uneducated and illiterate, but yet Ada writes to him (on a piano key of all things). And the annoying music Ada plays on the piano (and we hear over and over on the soundtrack) is out of place in a film set in the nineteenth century.