THE PIANO LESSONS REVIEW

Legacy, connection and ancestry.

It's never easy watching films that bring to life the harsh realities of our past and the pains of our present and future. Usually, I tend to stay clear of films such as this, to guard myself emotionally and focus on films that reflect joy and power amongst the black global diaspora. But there was something that drew me to watch it. The Piano Lessons. It could be my reverent love for film and my deep passion for theatre. Which is what this film brought to life for me, and of course I live for black actors and actresses taking up space in the industry. I also must say, Danielle Deadwyler's portrayal of Berniece was sensational!

The Piano Lessons felt like a theatre but for the screen. And it was visually provoking.

Starring John David Washington as Boy Willie Charles, Samuel L. Jackson as Doaker Charles, Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece Charles.

The film encompasses legacy and ancestry. Honing in on the family's history of heritage and enduring impact. Especially relating to slavery and identity, within the Black American experience. Director Malcolm Washington takes us to the Charles family in 1936 Pittsburgh, focusing on their conflict over an heirloom piano carved with their family history. This was Washington's directorial debut, balancing the themes of magical realism and thriller. Although some parts of the adaptation felt slow and slightly drawn out pertaining to the arguments and parts of the dialogue, its cinematic touches and cheery tone create a bypass for those elements of stagnancy.

As I journeyed through the film, the question arose: 'memory vs progress'. Berniece's desire to keep the piano is straddling between Boy Willie's objections to selling it and buy land. The struggle between wanting to hold onto history and reclaim what is rightfully ours. Whilst thinking about progressing for a positive future and creating a better way of living. Boy Willie's hustle is driven by a symbolic goal; he wants to buy land where his family was once enslaved. For him, owning land represents equality, freedom, and the ability to build a legacy, rather than living as a tenant or labourer on someone else’s property. He is quite impulsive, very talkative, and somewhat rough in manner. But his boldness manifests in his willingness to take risks, including selling the family’s heirloom piano.

Now let's talk about the music...

Music in The Piano Lesson isn’t just for show, it’s the beat of everything happen amongst dysfunction. The piano is loaded with family history and emotions, so every time someone plays, you feel all the pain, pride, and hope in the music. Composer Alexandre Desplat’s score draws inspiration from Duke Ellington and 1930s jazz and blues. He often employs the piano in unconventional and sometimes discordant. The music explores bluesy riffs, placing us right into 1930s Pittsburgh and giving the film its raw appeal.

Some of the most memorable scenes are when Berniece really gave a performance on the piano, especially during the supernatural moment. The music becomes the gap between past and present. Reinforcing why it's such a significant piece to the families heart.

With a compelling performance, especially from Danielle Deadwyler and John David Washington, and a respectful adaptation of August Wilson’s celebrated play, the film resonates deeply, offering both a personal and cultural reckoning.