The Piano Lesson - Movie Review

‘The Piano Lesson’ is the story of the Charles family’ struggle of the early part of the year 1936 over a piano that is deeply filled with their family’s history. Easily, Detour seamlessly incorporates the Outstanding Personal History with the larger Outstanding Collective History by portraying the conflict of viewpoints held by two siblings, Boy Willie and Berniece. With the brother wanting to sell the piano for land for his future with his new wife, and the sister wanting to keep the piano for a sign of endurance through their family and roots, family issues and slavery come into conflict within the film. The mood is bittersweet at some points, and there is a great deal of heartwarming tender moment intermixed with eruptions of history. ’The Piano Lesson’ captures a story that shows the difference between our past and present and what we have to sacrifice, so at least one can be happy. John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler perform the roles as two siblings stranded between history and science fiction. Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of the film’s rock adds gravitas and hormonal sensitivity, Ray Fisher, and Corey Hawkins, among the cast, provide sincerity and genuine depiction of their characters.

Malcom Washington has done a good job in directing this film adaptation taking into consideration the various aspects of August Wilson’s play. Washington’s respect to the source material is evident in his direction besides being poignant for the audience as well as intelligently made.

The score together with the themes remains functional in adding extra layers that represent the sound of the 19th century. The presence of song strengthens the plot and develops the play as it unfolds the drama and elevates acknowledgment of the African American ethnic group.

The work of Storaro as a cinematographer presents close spaces of domesticity against the backdrop of large expanses of the South, which symbolize main characters’ internal conflicts. The aesthetic of the film is impressive as since all efforts have been made towards recreating the 1930s period. It is not a showiness of special effects but a profound and deliberate focus to the objects in the movies: the intricacies of the Charles household, the satisfying depth of the piano. These are scenes that are simply beautiful and meaningful adding to the film’s themes but without overpowering them.

The film editing is excellent, fine and thoughtful, properly managing the reflective as well as the heightened emotional character development of the series. The pacing is also slow which gives the audience time to feel the gravity of each scene.

Also, the movie is slow but this can be easily forgiven given that some serious time is given to serious themes. It is slow and contemplative and pays off in heart after heart when the audience is willing to invest their time.

For the most part the dialogue is detailed and captures the essence of Wilson’s work – eloquent and emotional. The dialogues are intense and subtle, painting the characters’ internal struggles and desires rather vividly.

Despite the slow pace the film is powerful and dramatic. It was strange that the director relied much on using past and present interchangeably, but such a move emphasizes the main issues of the film.

The film ‘’The Piano Lesson may be touching emotionally many years after its production. Heritage, identity, and one’s personal legacy are discussed in the most detail and reveal both the specificity of St.Cloud and the universality of the film, as well as provoking the spectators’ emotions to the extent that they are interested and engaged.