Erika (Isabelle Huppert) teaches classical piano in a cold and often abrasive style. Approaching middle age, she lives with her doting mother (Annie Girardot) and still sleeps in the same bed with her. Erika's social life consists of occasionally sneaking away to a peep show where she secretly comes into contact with perverse passion, often using the discarded trash of previous customers. Her beautiful piano playing seduces youthful Walter (Benoit Magimel), who then takes the instructor's advanced class. Walter reveals his desire during a class session. Erika reacts curiously, presenting a long list of cruel, humiliating sexual acts she would like him to perform on her. Meanwhile, the teacher also torments a talented student (Anna Sigalevitch) who is already plagued by her own fears.
Michael Haneke (CODE UNKNOWN) directed this unflinching allegorical tale of cruelty. The film caused a stir at the Cannes Film Festival where it was controversial not only for its subject matter, but also because it won multiple awards there--the Grand Prize and acting awards for both Huppert and Magimel--despite leaving many audience members outraged. Based on a novel by Elfriede Jelinek, the film features numerous classical piano sonatas banged out in an aggressive style.
Theatrical release: March 29, 2002 (NY)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Unedited
Unrated
Letterbox - 1.85
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Production Interviews: Isabelle Huppert - Star
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Executive Producer
Christine Gozlan: Executive Producer, PIANO TEACHER (2002)
Executive Producer
Michael Katz: Executive Producer, PIANO TEACHER (2002)
Executive Producer
Yvon Crenn: Executive Producer, PIANO TEACHER (2002)
Source Writer
Alfriede Jelinek: Source Writer, PIANO TEACHER (2002)
Director of Photography
Christian Berger: Director of Photography, PIANO TEACHER (2002)
Review 1:
"...Watching Huppert, a great actress tearing into a landmark role, is riveting..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.137-8 04/11/2002
Review 2:
"...The movie is a stunner....This is one of the great Huppert performances..."
Source: USA Today
p.8E 11/08/2002
Review 3:
"...Haneke's psycho-drama boasts a searing performance from Isabelle Huppert..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.60 08/01/2002
Review 4:
"...Isabelle Huppert gives one of her greatest screen performances....[A] powerfully disquieting film..."
Source: New York Times
p.E15 03/29/2002
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