Backbencher
Weblog for HIST 381 at NDSUSaturday, January 26, 2008
RP: Film Review The Piano
The Piano is the story of a mute pianist and her emotional struggle. The woman, Ada, is married off to man in New Zealand that she doesn't know. She and her daughter travel to him along with Ada's beloved piano. Ada hasn't spoken since she was six but uses the piano as her voice and emotional outlet.
The struggle between husband and wife starts early when the piano is left at the beach. Bainnes, the neighbor, becomes taken with Ada and knows that the way to her heart is through the piano. He gets the piano and uses for his own ends to get Ada. They strike a bargain where she "earns" keys for the piano. The daughter sees some things, and Stewart becomes a very jealous and dangerous husband. He eventually chops off one of her fingers.
Stewart finally figures out he has lost Ada and she and her daughter leave with Bainnes and the piano. The piano threatens the boat's safety, and Ada lets them push it into the sea. She puts her foot in the rope and goes down with the piano, but she chooses life and frees herself from the piano. That is the start of her new life with Bainnes where she teaches piano, learns to speak, and has a metal tipped finger.
The weakness of the movie is it is centered around a love triangle and borders historical romance/drama not a historical account. The Maori people have slight roles in the film. They are depicted as hired help, and don't want to give up their land but are enticed with firearms. The film does show some trials of the land/mud and the oppression of women but nothing historical really stands out. The film is for entertainment, not for facts.
The struggle between husband and wife starts early when the piano is left at the beach. Bainnes, the neighbor, becomes taken with Ada and knows that the way to her heart is through the piano. He gets the piano and uses for his own ends to get Ada. They strike a bargain where she "earns" keys for the piano. The daughter sees some things, and Stewart becomes a very jealous and dangerous husband. He eventually chops off one of her fingers.
Stewart finally figures out he has lost Ada and she and her daughter leave with Bainnes and the piano. The piano threatens the boat's safety, and Ada lets them push it into the sea. She puts her foot in the rope and goes down with the piano, but she chooses life and frees herself from the piano. That is the start of her new life with Bainnes where she teaches piano, learns to speak, and has a metal tipped finger.
The weakness of the movie is it is centered around a love triangle and borders historical romance/drama not a historical account. The Maori people have slight roles in the film. They are depicted as hired help, and don't want to give up their land but are enticed with firearms. The film does show some trials of the land/mud and the oppression of women but nothing historical really stands out. The film is for entertainment, not for facts.
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