The Piano

This controversially erotic film from New Zealand established screenwriter-director Jane Campion as a universally recognized talent. Holly Hunter stars as Ada, a mute 19th-century woman sent to New Zealand in an arranged marriage with a patriarchal landowner (Sam Neill). She brings along her daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin), and tries to also bring her beloved piano, much to the consternation of her new husband, who abandons the piano on a beach. Artistically and emotionally frustrated, Ada finds herself experiencing an erotic awakening when Baines (Harvey Keitel), an illiterate settler covered with Maori tattoos, rescues her piano, buys it from her husband, then strikes a strange bargain with Ada that gradually leads to her sexual awakening--and to an explosive confrontation.

Jaw-droppingly beautfiul with its purple and green palette of untamed New Zealand scenery, THE PIANO is both a ravishing love story and a psychosexual fairy tale on a par with WUTHERING HEIGHTS and JANE EYRE. Featuring a haunting piano score by Michael Nyman and brilliant performances, THE PIANO is a masterpiece, considered one of the best films of the 1990s.

"...A severely beautiful, mysterious movie that, as if by magic, liberates the romantic imagination....[The] principal performances are extraordinary..." - New York Times

"...An exquisitely romantic personal ode to creativity..." - Recommended - Premiere

"...Carefully rendered....Stratharin puts in a very fine turn..." - Variety

"...Campion manages her story and symbols beautifully, and evokes harrowing performances from her four leads..." - Film Comment

"...The performances are as original as the characters....It is one of those rare movies that is not just about a story, or some characters, but about a whole universe of feeling..." - Chicago Sun-Times

"The lighting is crepuscular, the costumes heavy and the atmosphere brooding." - Sight and Sound

top dramas dvds

Lost - The Complete First Season - Television +w Created by successful television producer J.J. Abrams (FELICITY, ALIAS), LOST...  read more

2.  The Departed - Dramas +w 3.  Fight Club - Dramas +w 4.  The Notebook - Dramas +w 5.  Pan's Labyrinth - Dramas +w 6.  Casino Royale - Dramas +w 7.  House - Season One - Television +w 8.  Dexter -The First Season - Television +w 9.  P.S. I Love You - Dramas +w 10.  The Bourne Supremacy - Dramas +w