The Piano Teacher (Unrated Edition)

If it is true that sadomasochism is a two-sided coin which contains the whole in the diverse expression of its opposites, then the cinematic portrait of Erika Kohut has its reality. Professor Kohut treats her piano students with a kind of fascist sadism while longing for the same for herself. Her outward expression projects her desire. That is why she can hurt without guilt or remorse.Along comes talented, charming, handsome young Walter Klemmer (Benoit Magimel) who is attracted to her because of her passion and her intensity. He wants to become her student so as to be close to her. She rejects him out of hand, but because of his talent the Vienna conservatory votes him in. He falls in love with her. Again she pushes him away, but he will not take no for an answer, and thereby begins his own descent into depravity and loss of self-respect.The question the viewer might ask at this point is, who is in control? The sadist or the masochist? Indeed who is the sadist and who the masochist? It is hard to tell. Is it the person who has just been greatly abused both psychologically and physically, who is actually lying wounded on the floor in grotesque triumphant and fulfillment, or is it the person who is rushing out the door, sated, giving the order that no one is to know what happened.But Erika is not just a sadomasochistic freak. She is a sex extreme freak. She wants to experience the extremes of human sexuality while maintaining the facade of respectability. Actually that isn't even true. She says she doesn't care what others think. She doesn't care if they walk in and find her bleeding on the floor because she is in love. Love, she calls it. For her sex and love are one and the same.At one point Walter tells her that love isn't everything. How ironic such a superfluity is to her. How gratuitous the comment.The movie is beautifully cut and masterfully directed by Michael Haneke who spins the tale with expert camera work and carefully constructed sets in which the essence of the action is not just clear but exemplified (as in the bathroom when Walter propels himself high above the top of the stall to find Erika within). He also employs a fine positioning of the players so that they are always where they should be with well timed cuts from one angle to another. This is particularly important in the scene in which Erika, like a blood-drained corpse caught in stark white and black light, lies under her lover, rigid as stone. Here for the most part we only see her face and the stark outline of her neck with its pulsating artery. We don't need to see any more.The part of Erika Kohut is perfect for Isabelle Huppert who is not afraid of extremes; indeed she excels in them. I have seen her in a number of movies and what she does better than almost anyone is become the character body and soul. Like the woman she plays in this movie she is unafraid of what others may think and cares little about her appearance in a decorative sense. What matters to her is the performance and the challenge. No part is too demanding. No character too depraved. It's as if Huppert wants to experience all of humanity, and wants us to watch her as she does. She is always fascinating and nearly flawless. She is not merely a leading light of the French cinema; she is one of the great actresses of our time who has put together an amazingly diverse body of work.I think it is highly instructive and affords us a wonderful and striking contrast to compare her performance here with her performance in The Lacemaker (La Dentellière) from 1977 when she was 22 years old. There she was apple sweet in her red hair and freckles and her pretty face and her cute little figure playing Pomme, a Parisian apprentice hairdresser. Her character was shy about sex and modest--just an ordinary French girl who hoped one day to be a beautician. Here she is a self-destructive witch, bitter with hateful knowledge of herself, shameless and entirely depraved.Huppert is fortunate in being an actress in France where there are parts like this for women past the age of starlets. (Hollywood could never make a movie like this.) In the American cinema, only a handful of the very best and hardest working actresses can hope to have a career after the age of about thirty. Huppert greatly increases her exposure because of her ability and range, but also because she is willing to play unsympathetic roles, here and also in La Cérémonie (1995) in which she plays a vile, spiteful murderess.Do see this for Isabelle Huppert. You won't forget her or the character she brings to life.

A shocking and brazen film that will not be for all tastes. I cannot say that it is a pleasant film to watch but it is certainly riveting for those with discerning tastes. I would venture to bet that most actresses would turn this script down considering the things that she has to do. Isabelle Huppert is brave and daring to do so. She is a mesmerizing actress and there are many long shots with the camera lingering on her face. The Criterion Blu-ray looks fantastic. The extras include interviews with Huppert, director Michael Haneke, selected scenes commentary with Huppert, behind the scenes footage and trailer.

Kinda had a wince on the whole time watching this one, was able to appreciate it more after the fact.I have subsequently watched most of the director’s other films now though with this still being my favorite.Interviews are well worth the purchase if you liked the movie.Would recommend to fans of the movie, people who are looking for something different, and film buffs.

Sad in a sick twisted way. Most depressing? maybe. The story is about an uptight sexually repressed piano teacher who lives with her old mother. Also the students she teaches. She has a gift for music and comes off as very intelligent yet emotionless. One of her younger students falls in love with her, attempts to seduce her and she keeps trying to control him and use him for her warped version of love. I still cant tell if she really loved him or not. It seems the only time she feels anything is when shes inflicting pain on herself or pain on others, even the student who loves her.She makes him do certain things and will deny his affections. Then when he does what she supposedly wanted him to do which was disturbing in itself, she is still just sitting there with no emotion at all. This woman was definitely mentally ill and i tried to understand her character but there wasnt really enough information. I dont want to give away the ending but the whole movie is a downer. I didnt understand what happened at the end or what became of her but i have to say this, this is probably the saddest portrayal of anyone ive ever seen on film. I still cant tell what exactly made her that way. Is she a sociopath? Was she abused at some point? Its a slow moving film but effective.

Dark, disturbing- yet sly, this captivating and fascinating character study ambitiously takes on themes of perfectionism, arrested development, female sexuality, perversion, and the balance between keeping a private life and the need for self expressionism, all with great intelligence and confidence. The cold, repressed and socially awkward piano teacher and her dangerous desire for control, dark fantasies, and demand for her arbitrary perfection from the students and her potential lover is a brilliant metaphor to convey the film's mature themes.The great Isabelle Huppert portrays the title character and is masterful in a role that is challenging for being professionally restrained and emotionally raw. Her performance is unforgettable- completely fearless and absolutely stunning! Though the subject matter is shocking and the content extreme, this is decidedly unromantic and intellectual.The cold Vienna setting, effective use of classical music, and excellent direction and photography give the film an artistic atmosphere and uncompromising edge. I was not a big fan of director Haneke's Funny Games, but I found this film a haunting and provocative surprise. Some films to compare this with: Elle (also with Huppert), the masterpiece Belle de Jour, and especially Last Tango In Paris. This Criterion Blu ray contains commentary on select scenes, and interviews.

This film is a perfect example of French cinema at its best. One of France's greatest actresses - Isabelle Huppert - plays the part of Erika, a Viennese piano teacher, late thirties and sexually repressed, she lives an isolated, lonely life in a small apartment with her aged and volatile mother with whom she has a love-hate relationship. She has masochistic tendencies and pays clandestine visits to sex-shops to view hardcore pornography. She is aware of her own talent and skill as a teacher of the classical piano and judges others harshly. When a young male student approaches her she is impressed by his musical capabilities on the piano. He too is drawn to her. With her state of mind aroused and the young student's youthful naivety fully engaged they begin an affair.This is not a film for the faint-hearted or lovers of `Mary Poppins plays piano' type of entertainment! It is at times very dark, and sexually explicit, though the latter amounts to no more that about ten minutes or less in total in a film of over two hours. But what there is, is strong and often violent. I did wonder about the strength of the sexual scenes, until I realised it had to be so, to fully explain the intense state of mind of Erika. The film is, after all, about Erika's mental condition and her relationship with the people in her life.The classical piano music to be heard, although the film is not about this, is nevertheless essential and enjoyable, and most is heard during the early half of the film. My only small (very) criticism is I thought the sub-titling was a little on the large side - others may not agree! It does not in any case hinder the following of the screenplay.There are a good number of reviews of this movie - some of which are very comprehensive, even learned. They are well worth reading. I won't attempt to compete with those. What I will say is `The Piano Teacher' is a disturbing, and above all a very compelling film to watch. The industry awards it collected are no surprise. If you like French cinema films you'll like this one!

All french with subtitles, a full-on look in to passion and love and what it is and what can change your individual perception of it. Very good indeed, with the obligatory 'what the f' ending of all french films. Definitely worth it and dont be put off by subtitles, the film flows easily and they dont interfere with the film at al

Was not prepared for how extreme this was going to get....I understand it's a classic and won a few awards, but certainly won't be watching again.Best advice I can give......be prepared to be shocked.

I was greatly impressed with The Piano Teacher when I first saw it some years ago. I'm still impressed now. It was my recollection of that first viewing that prompted me to order my own copy. (Safely and promptly received, btw.)

I was surprised by what i saw, it wasn't what i had expected. I didn't like it, i found it upsetting. You could say i definitely disliked it.