Post by klep on Jan 16, 2017 7:55:38 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/16: The Piano
IT'S LADIES' WEEK!
Only four women have ever been nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. One of those women was Jane Campion, for 1993's The Piano. The Piano, starring Holly Hunter as a mute woman named Ada shipped off to an arranged marriage in New Zealand, ostensibly reflects gender relations at the time, but is still all-too accurate today.
Ada arrives in New Zealand with her daughter Flora (young Anna Paquin), and is unceremoniously dumped with her belongings, including the titular piano, on a stretch of beach. When her new husband (Stewart, played by Sam Neill) arrives with porters, the only thing that gets left behind is the piano, despite Ada's insistence that it is the most important thing to be brought. It is, after all, her only voice. It's how she speaks with the world, and it's when she's playing that she is happiest.
It isn't a promising start, and it's borne out by what follows. Stewart isn't interested in Ada as a person, she's merely an object to be possessed and used. Indeed he holds her muteness as a positive quality, because it means she will be quiet. He doesn't force himself on her, but the expectation is there that she will sooner or later be sexually available to him.
Meanwhile he ignores her wishes entirely. The piano sits alone on the beach, not even being moved above the tide line. And when neighbor Baines (Harvey Keitel) comes along offering to swap land for the piano, Stewart readily and greedily agrees, caring not for Ada's desires and telling her she will have to teach Baines how to play it. He gives a nice line about sacrifices, ignoring that he himself is sacrificing nothing.
But Baines isn't really interested in learning to play the piano; he also has designs upon Ada. He'll trade the piano back to her, but in exchange she must play while he leers at her. As his demands upon her became more and more onerous I found myself growing sick. Once again Ada is denied her voice by a man who is more interested in her as an object than as a person.
While Baines eventually repents of his treatment of Ada, giving her piano back to her out of shame, Stewart does not. When Stewart discovers that Baines small act of consideration for Ada as a human being has resulted in her developing feelings for Baines, he drops all pretense of civility and begins treating Ada more like the property he feels she is.
Ultimately Ada is able to leave New Zealand with Baines and her piano, but as they head offshore she insists the piano be thrown overboard; she no longer wants it, feeling it has been spoiled. She tries to follow it off by tangling her foot in the rope, but ultimately decides to continue living. Instead, we see an epilogue of her enjoying life back in England with Baines.
But this ending felt a little hollow to me, a little false. All that Baines did to earn her affection was feel bad about trying to extort sex out of her - the bare minimum to indicate that he cared for her as a human being and not just an object to be had. It seemed to me her opting for him over Stewart was more choosing a lesser of two evils than anything else. I would suggest that Jane Campion agrees, on some level, as she has stated she wished that she'd let Ada drown with her piano - a victim choosing the one certain, sad way out.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/23: The Seventh Seal
1950s WEEK!
As we enter a new administration, join us in contemplating the end of things as we celebrate the decade that too many Americans think was a golden era for all. Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal is a classic for good reason, and we'll be talking about it next week. The Seventh Seal is available on Filmstruck's Criterion channel and for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 1/12: Paterson
Last week's Next Picture Show concluded its discussion of Jim Jarmusch by taking a look at his latest film Paterson. Since I've been unable to catch the film, Ryan Swen has graciously agreed to fill in for me again. Look for that thread on Wednesday!
IT'S LADIES' WEEK!
Only four women have ever been nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. One of those women was Jane Campion, for 1993's The Piano. The Piano, starring Holly Hunter as a mute woman named Ada shipped off to an arranged marriage in New Zealand, ostensibly reflects gender relations at the time, but is still all-too accurate today.
Ada arrives in New Zealand with her daughter Flora (young Anna Paquin), and is unceremoniously dumped with her belongings, including the titular piano, on a stretch of beach. When her new husband (Stewart, played by Sam Neill) arrives with porters, the only thing that gets left behind is the piano, despite Ada's insistence that it is the most important thing to be brought. It is, after all, her only voice. It's how she speaks with the world, and it's when she's playing that she is happiest.
It isn't a promising start, and it's borne out by what follows. Stewart isn't interested in Ada as a person, she's merely an object to be possessed and used. Indeed he holds her muteness as a positive quality, because it means she will be quiet. He doesn't force himself on her, but the expectation is there that she will sooner or later be sexually available to him.
Meanwhile he ignores her wishes entirely. The piano sits alone on the beach, not even being moved above the tide line. And when neighbor Baines (Harvey Keitel) comes along offering to swap land for the piano, Stewart readily and greedily agrees, caring not for Ada's desires and telling her she will have to teach Baines how to play it. He gives a nice line about sacrifices, ignoring that he himself is sacrificing nothing.
But Baines isn't really interested in learning to play the piano; he also has designs upon Ada. He'll trade the piano back to her, but in exchange she must play while he leers at her. As his demands upon her became more and more onerous I found myself growing sick. Once again Ada is denied her voice by a man who is more interested in her as an object than as a person.
While Baines eventually repents of his treatment of Ada, giving her piano back to her out of shame, Stewart does not. When Stewart discovers that Baines small act of consideration for Ada as a human being has resulted in her developing feelings for Baines, he drops all pretense of civility and begins treating Ada more like the property he feels she is.
Ultimately Ada is able to leave New Zealand with Baines and her piano, but as they head offshore she insists the piano be thrown overboard; she no longer wants it, feeling it has been spoiled. She tries to follow it off by tangling her foot in the rope, but ultimately decides to continue living. Instead, we see an epilogue of her enjoying life back in England with Baines.
But this ending felt a little hollow to me, a little false. All that Baines did to earn her affection was feel bad about trying to extort sex out of her - the bare minimum to indicate that he cared for her as a human being and not just an object to be had. It seemed to me her opting for him over Stewart was more choosing a lesser of two evils than anything else. I would suggest that Jane Campion agrees, on some level, as she has stated she wished that she'd let Ada drown with her piano - a victim choosing the one certain, sad way out.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/23: The Seventh Seal
1950s WEEK!
As we enter a new administration, join us in contemplating the end of things as we celebrate the decade that too many Americans think was a golden era for all. Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal is a classic for good reason, and we'll be talking about it next week. The Seventh Seal is available on Filmstruck's Criterion channel and for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 1/12: Paterson
Last week's Next Picture Show concluded its discussion of Jim Jarmusch by taking a look at his latest film Paterson. Since I've been unable to catch the film, Ryan Swen has graciously agreed to fill in for me again. Look for that thread on Wednesday!