The Piano Teacher: What an ending!!#?? review
I screamed as the credits scrolled down the screen. How can a film end like this, I thought. The Piano Teacher Erika Kohut (Isabelle Huppert) is really one of the most twisted characters I’ve ever come across on the silver screen and its ending the most unexpected and unexplainable.
Michael Haneke sets up the film just like Cache. Everything seems normal. Erika seems to be one disenchanted perfectionist. Living alone with her “hot blooded” old mother, who’s prying and possessive in her own twisted way. The Piano teacher’s life seem to revolve around concerts, institute and her mother.
Heneke gives a slight hint in the beginning when her mother picks up a fight with her for coming late, well if I remember correctly three hours late. We tend to ignore it and presume that her mom is an intruding hag.
Amidst the piano classes and high society concerts, all of a sudden we find Professor Kohut in a sex shop smelling used tissue papers. If this was not enough to shock us, we find her taking pervert pleasure in first peeping then peeing in an open air theatre where couples are making out in their cars.
Gradually as we sink in the film, we learn that we’ve only scratched the surface of the protagonist. And when we are taken deeper into her mind, we feel thrilled and repulsed simultaneously.
Isabelle Huppert renders a brilliant performance as the Piano Teacher. Annie Girardot gives her a befitting company as her grouchy mother on screen.
The film takes unexpected turns and the most shocking is of course the ending. Professor Kohut stabs herself with a kitchen knife and walks away form the auditorium.
The only parallel I can think of this scene is the one in the Cache where Majid slits open his throat. Personally I like Cache better because of it’s lasting effect. Piano Teacher seems to be more like an imperfect Cache. I will never forgive Michael Haneke for ending the film when I least expected.
Comments( 1 )
Dude!I loved your review for the most
Dude!I loved your review for the most part but don’t agree with your misguided misinterpretation of the ending. Since your review generally is above reproach, I will only talk about the ending.For starters how did you expect the film to end? With a reconciliation.., a murder or perhaps a ray of hope? All three would have been compromising in my opinion, remember The Piano Teacher is not a thriller hence comparing its philosophy with Cache and expecting the same results is unfair to both films.Agreed the ending is too sudden and open ended..BUT the film is really about Erika's mental disintegration isn’t it? Haneke doesn't bother much about entertaining or even satisfying the viewer, but instead obsessively focuses on the ultimate and complete wreckage of a frustrated and deeply tragic life. If nothing else, the ending convinces us that Erika has reached the point of no return, her mask exposed, and she will never be able to redeem herself. The ending albeit very ugly and jarring, just leaves it at that because there is nothing more to say.Still dissatisfied? Then try it this way.. Would the ending have been any different or meaningful if the Piano Teacher was a real life narrative instead of cinema? Isn’t sexual frustration a reality? You’ve called the ending "unexpected and unexplainable". The sexual complexity of Erika’s character and the pain she inflicts on herself can never be explained fully.The ending is perfect as the film takes us into the depths of human depravity, and leaves us there, angry and smarting.CheersAniruddha