PIANIST

THE PIANO TEACHER (LA PIANISTE), 2001
France, Austria, Germany | HDD, Color, 96’ | French, German
Director: Michael Haneke
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel

The film, adapted by Haneke from Elfriede Jelinek’s eponymous novel, which caused a stir when it was published in 1983, depicts the world of classical music and perverted female sexuality. When Erika, who is a professor of piano at the Vienna Conservatory and who has an ambiguous relationship with her mother, meets a young pianist candidate named Walter, her life is turned upside down. In addition to the Grand Prize of the Jury at Cannes, the film also brought awards to its two leading actors. As emotional as it is shocking, the film is especially captivating with Huppert’s acting.