The Piano Teacher

My initial reaction, though, is that it's not a great film. There's something self-satisfied about its severity, bordering on smugness. It congratulates itself for being a movie willing to show you what it shows, and the audience is expected to congratulate it (and Huppert in particular) in turn. I can understand the attraction of the role to a performer like Huppert, because she's a serious actress and it was a serious challenge. But that's the thing -- I can understand the motivations of the people who wanted to make the movie, but I have a hard time thinking of a motivation for wanting to see it.

it doesn't really work, though, as a story about a piano teacher. the open cliffhanger of 'what happens?' is underwhelming, if such a thing is possible.

Ugh, strike 2 for Haneke after Funny Games. I didn't even know he directed this film.

I'll be chewing this one over for a couple of days.

it's a bullshit movie with a great performance. (oh i already said that on this thread. well, it's still true.)

''As for the Adorno side of things - wasn't Adorno some hot-shot musician as well?''

yes, and a composer but not a v good one i believe (haven't heard anything tho').

I have heard a string quartet of his since, my recollection of it was as a very 1910s-20s sorta work in the way the strings would move.

H's performance, undoubtedly great as it is, is kinda used to talk down the all-round excellence of this film. As a character and the way it is drawn, the teacher is totally unreal, so its remarkable how she makes as convincing as it is, and how I even sympathize and feel for her at the end when she is merely a spoiled child (as Daria puts it). May have a lot of bullshit in it but I like his bullshit.

John Waters needs to remake it.

It desperately needs improvement by someone, anyone