Beautiful and inventive (SPOILERS!!!)

Rating: 10/10 (14 July 2001)

Whatever needed to be said about this film has most likely already been posted here or somewhere else but I felt that maybe I should add my two pennies worth. First of all, I must say that this is a movie that is sure to move you if you keep an open mind and don't take it at face value. Remember it's an analogy and it's meant to represent a theme not "real life". And like, Ada's voice in the film, this movie will only speak to you if you truly listen and want to hear its message. Several people I know took the film too literally and missed the whole point. They kept asking "Why won't she dump that piano?" and "Why doesn't she talk?" Ironically, the answers to these two questions are remarkably intertwined. (I'll leave you to find the answers when you watch it.) I also am haunted by the image of Ada's "lullaby", her vision of herself tied to the piano under the sea. What a striking picture! I loved the fact that the piano was both her voice and her burden. This film expressed a lot that I think needs to said about the issues that are still facing women in our society.
Also, the soundtrack is wonderful. What's great is that it is stunning by itself, outside of the film-a rare thing in scores today.