Die Klavierspielerin

A heavy psychological film about sexual obsessions that won’t give you a clear, satisfying answer to anything, but you definitely won’t forget it. (10.08.2002)

Michael Haneke does not make pleasant and beautiful films, but rather unsettling dramas that injure and leave behind a strange aftertaste. However, or perhaps precisely because of this, it is not a bad film. It portrays a possibly not widely spread, yet realistically existing world of sexual deviances of people distorted by constant pretending, secrecy, and unfulfilled desires. It is definitely a more realistic view of a certain aspect of eroticism and interpersonal relationships than Shortbus, which I recently watched. Moreover, the film has excellent performances, led by Isabelle Huppert. She excels in her role as a psychopathic teacher. If something bothers me about the film, it is the excessively long duration. Some scenes are unnecessary and others are drawn out. Overall impression: 80%. (21.01.2009)

Mit dem Werk von Elfriede Jelinek sollte man sich besser außerhalb der durch den Nobelpreis ausgelösten Welle des Interesses bekanntmachen. Heute ist der Abstand ausreichend. Aber es ist schwer vorstellbar, dass der Rummel um diesen Kunstfilm nicht auch mit dem Rummel um den Nobelpreis zusammenhängt. Es hängt in einer Schleife fest, was eigentlich schade ist. Denn Die Klavierspielerin beschäftigt sich mit Themen, die diskutiert werden sollten, aber nicht diskutiert werden. Es ist faszinierend, dass etwas so Einfaches wie eine Mutter-Tochter-Beziehung zu etwas so Kompliziertem und Verheerendem werden kann. (26.03.2017)

I definitely do not consider myself - nor can I consider myself - an expert on Michael Haneke, but I think I can confidently say that he is one of my favorite directors. And that's after only seeing three of his films. The first one was "Funny Games," which I must admit left me quite disappointed. What he dared to do at the end was something extra that simply didn't belong there. Why? Similar script interventions are usually detrimental, unless you're Charlie Kaufman. The second film, on the other hand, truly impressed me. It was, of course, the Oscar-winning "Amour." A film that leaves you with incredibly deep emotions. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/02/pianistka-2001-85.html (09.04.2013)