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The Piano [DVD] [1993]
 
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The Piano [DVD] [1993]

DVD ~ Holly Hunter
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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The Piano [DVD] [1993]
89% buy the item featured on this page:
The Piano [DVD] [1993] 4.3 out of 5 stars (23)
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Product details

  • Actors: Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin, Kerry Walker
  • Directors: Jane Campion
  • Writers: Jane Campion
  • Producers: Alain Depardieu, Jan Chapman, Mark Turnbull
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English, Maori
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Entertainment in Video
  • DVD Release Date: 30 Aug 1999
  • Run Time: 120 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004RCKA
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 37,201 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jane Campion's The Piano struck a deep chord (if you'll excuse the expression) with audiences in 1993, who were mesmerised by the film's rich, dreamlike imagery. It is the story of a Scottish woman named Ada (Holly Hunter), who has been mute since age 6 because she simply chose not to speak. Ada travels with her daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano to a remote spot on the coast of New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a farmer (Sam Neill). She gives piano lessons to a gruff neighbor (Harvey Keitel) who has Maori tattoos on his face, and, well, things develop from there. The picture takes on a powerful dream logic that simply defies synopsis. It's a breathtakingly beautiful and original achievement from Campion, a unique stylist. The Piano won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Oscars for Hunt, Paquin and Campion's screenplay. --Jim Emerson

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jane Campion's The Piano struck a deep chord (if you'll excuse the expression) with audiences in 1993, who were mesmerised by the film's rich, dreamlike imagery. It is the story of a Scottish woman named Ada (Holly Hunter), who has been mute since age 6 because she simply chose not to speak. Ada travels with her daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano to a remote spot on the coast of New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a farmer (Sam Neill). She gives piano lessons to a gruff neighbor (Harvey Keitel) who has Maori tattoos on his face and, well, things develop from there. The picture takes on a powerful dream logic that simply defies synopsis. It's a breathtakingly beautiful and original achievement from Campion, a unique stylist. The Piano won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Oscars for Hunt, Paquin and Campion's screenplay. --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com

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Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
5 star:
 (15)
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 (3)
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2 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing performances, beautifully haunting movie..., 18 Nov 2006
By L. Black "lorcanblack" (Dublin, Republic of Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Piano (Special Edition) [DVD] [1993] (DVD)
The Piano is an amazing tale of lust, envy, jealousy, betrayal and female identity and independence. Set in the mid nineteenth century, Ada McGrath is shipped off with her daughter Flora and their scant belongings to New Zealand, the reason being her arranged marriage to a somewhat successful land owner. Ada's beloved piano makes the journey with her.

The visually haunting opening scene of her arrival on the beach is perhaps one of the most haunting movie openings I think I've ever seen. From the beginning you sense her suffocating sense of misplacement and isolation, her sense of being out of place in the rain drenched, mud soaked South Island is overpowering (you have to remember this was way back when the area was hardly populated except by natives and there were few roads etc).

Holly Hunter excells, as usual, in her role, deservedly winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of a woman who chooses to be mute and has not spoken since she was six years old. Ada's true love, is her piano, which is her emotional and symbolic voice, being her most powerful expression of emotion and spirit. Ada takes an instant dislike of her new husband (Sam Neil) when he refuses to bring her piano up from the beach, and when an illiterate neighbour George Baines (played by Harvey Keitel) decides to bring her piano to his home, he strikes up a deal with her, formulating a way for her to earn it back. He proposes that for every lesson she gives, he gets to perform one sexual act. In the beginning, Ada despises George for his immoral, lustful blackmailing, however slowly, tacitly, their relationship transforms into a strong emotional and intellectual bond, and their lives spiral down into a frenzy of lust, deadly jealousy, envy and tragedy. The movie is full of symbolism and should be read metaphorically rather than literally. Passion is abundant, and as a pianist, I felt her intense passion for playing, which offered not only a voice for her to express herself with, but formed a part integral to her identity.

It is long, and quite slow to get into but very rewarding, and the haunting climax, and ending will leave you breathless but with a feeling of fullfilment.

I watch it again and again, and realise each time more and more symbolism within the movie. Amazing, Jane Campion deserved her praise and awards, while Anna Paquin became the youngest actress ever to win an Academy Award, whilst Holly Hunter excels in the peformance of a lifetime.

Tagged as one of the best movies of the last 30 years of the twentieth century?... I certainly think so.
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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully emotional experiance, 30 Jun 2001
By A Customer
With it's mixture of happiness and pain, love ands envy, it can be said that 'The Piano' is a film without fault. Set in the 19th centaury it is a story of a dumb woman and her daughter. Ada is married off to a successful landowner in New-Zealand, but of all of her possessions her husband will not bring is her beloved piano. The piano has replaced her vioce and love and since she lost it six years previously and Ada feels useless without it. A neighbour decides to retrieve the abandoned piano and claim it for his own. He strikes a deal with Ada so that he can do certain things to her whilst she plays. The story spirals into a storm of lust, envy, anger, pain and love. With an unforgettable finish to a beautiful film this is a wonderful picture indeed. The film has a stunning soundtrack with some amazing piano pieces which keep emotions riding high right until the end of the final credits. There is superb acting by Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill all wonderfully directed by Jane Campion,
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and sensitive film, 15 Mar 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Piano [VHS] [1993] (VHS Tape)
Set in New Zealand and making the most of the stunning scenery, this beautifully photographed film leaves a lasting impression.

The casting is good and the roles are played with sensitivity and skill. The film has a dream like quality throughout that draws you in but never confuses. Excellent!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A total masterpiece!
I purchased this movie having played the signature piece at School and from a friend recommending it - I have to say I wasn't that enthusiastic, but having seen it, all I can say... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ms. K. Ellinor

5.0 out of 5 stars The Piano
I had this film on video tape, and it has been watched, and loaned out to friends so many times, it's worn out. So, I had to but the DVD!!!!!!!!!!! Read more
Published 22 months ago by J. Mortimer

5.0 out of 5 stars Book? What book?
I am not sure what others are referring to when they say this film is not as good as the 'book it is based upon' - because The Piano is a total original. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2007 by Mr. A. Rigby

5.0 out of 5 stars HAUNTING
I've had this CD for a few years now. Still haunting. Still captivating. Surreal... beautiful, beautiful music. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2006 by Odette

3.0 out of 5 stars Minor Chord Struck
It is understandable that movies cannot be the same as the book they are based on, however, in this one a number of important parts from the book were left out that would have... Read more
Published on 18 Jul 2006 by Catherine

2.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly disappointing
This movie has won lots of plaudits and we had expected (perhaps too) much but were correspondingly disappointed. Read more
Published on 15 Jul 2006 by W. J. Stewart

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant film, wonderfully emotive
With it's mixture of happiness and pain, love ands envy, it can be said that 'The Piano' is a film without fault. Read more
Published on 6 Jul 2006 by Mr. P. G. Stam

5.0 out of 5 stars A piano in Maori country
This film shows how music can become the strongest side of a personality when a woman who cannot talk expresses herself on the keys of a piano : she plays music to live inside... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2004 by Jacques COULARDEAU

1.0 out of 5 stars The most pretentious film I have ever seen
I usually watch movies until the very end no matter how bad they are. This movie is so long it was torture to watch all of it. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars a breathtaking masterpice
This film is a true classic just ten years after its release, I tried to describe this film to a friend but it proved impossible. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2003 by shellydevoto

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