Visually Stunned

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 2005)

I had no idea what this movie was about until my husband I ran across it on our free Showtime sampler. I play the piano and love period films, and after recently seeing the new release of "Pride and Prejudice" I felt that the short description offered on the satellite header promised more of the same. Other reviews summarize the plot well enough, so I will not do that. It is of more use to say that this film is not feminist so much as it is feminine. It is also extremely masculine at the same time... thank you Sam Neil and Harvey Keitel. Holly Hunter's character, Ada, expresses the concentrate of her human emotion in her music. That is why it is so important to her. It IS her voice. When the piano is taken away by her new husband, it is impossible for her to feel the love for him that he truly wants and needs. Sam Neil's character is actually a lovely man; he makes fatal mistakes about the piano though. Ultimately, it is not about the piano- but understanding. George gives Ada the understanding and the slow progression of emotional and physical intimacy that she should have received from her husband. He listens to her. That is what women want most. I've never seen that so poignantly displayed in any movie. Another reviewer was correct when she said that the movie flowed like a poem. Alisdair is not so jealous of what he sees through the walls of George's house as he is of the piano key inscribed with the pledge of Ada's heart to George. Yet, Ada is not completely indifferent to Alisdair. Not at all. Ada is looking for strength of will in the men around her, and inevitably in herself. I do understand the polarity in the reactions to the movie as it was exemplified in my own living room. As the credits rolled, my husband said,"That was a weird movie." I smiled and said, "That was a beautiful movie." The comment stands.