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Piano, The

Year of completion: 1992
Content type: Narrative Content
Format: Feature
Genre: Drama
Duration: 118 minutes
Production Status: Completed

Ada, her nine-year-old daughter, and her piano, arrive to an arranged marriage in the remote bush of 19th century New Zealand. Of all her belongings, her husband refuses to transport the piano and it is left behind on the beach. Unable to bear its certain destruction, Ada strikes a bargain with an illiterate neighbour. She may earn her piano back if she allows him to do certain things while she plays: one black key for every lesson. The arrangement draws all three deeper and deeper into a complex emotional, sexual bond, remarkable for its naive passion and frightening disregard for limits.

Completion Year: 1992
Genres: Drama
Format: Feature
Production Status: Completed

Cast and Crew

Cast

Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin, Kerry Walker, Genevieve Lemon, Tungia Baker

Awards

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Supporting Actress - Anna Paquin

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Original Screenplay

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Motion Picture of the Year - Jan Chapman

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Achievement in Directing - Jane Campion

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Achievement in Cinematography - Stuart Dryburgh

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Achievement in Costume Design - Janet Patterson

1994 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Best Achievement in Film Editing - Veronika Jenet

1993 — ATN Channel 7 – Best Australian Movie

1994 — Australian Box Office Achievements Awards – Best Australian Film

1993 — Chicago Film Critics Association – Best Foreign Film

1993 — Chicago Film Critics Association – Best Musical Score- Michael Nyman

1993 — Chicago Film Critics Association – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1994 — French Academy Awards – Cesar

1993 — Golden Globe Awards – Best Actress - Holly Hunter, Motion Picture Drama

1994 — Independent Feature Project – Independent Spirit Award, Best Foreign Film

1993 — London Film Critics Circle – Film of the Year

1993 — London Film Critics Circle – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Director - Jane Campion

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Screenplay - Jane Campion

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Supporting Actress (shared) - Anna Paquin

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Cinematrography (shared) - Stuart Dryburgh

1993 — Los Angeles Film Critics Awards – Best Music - Michael Nyman

1993 — New York Film Critics Awards – Best Director - Jane Campion

1993 — New York Film Critics Awards – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1993 — New York Film Critics Awards – Best Screenplay - Jane Campion

1994 — Producers Guild of America – PGA/Eastman Kodak "Nova" Award - Jan Chapman

1994 — Swedish Film Institute – Best Foreign Film

1993 — US National Board of Review – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1993 — US National Society Film Critics – Best Screenwriter - Jane Campion

1993 — US National Society Film Critics – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

1994 — Motion Pictures Sound Editors Guild Awards – Best Sound Editing

1993 — Vancouver International Film Festival – Most Popular Film

1994 — Video Industry Distributors Association – Highest Selling Rental Video

1993 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia – Best Film

1993 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia – Best Director - Jane Campion

1993 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia – Best Supporting Actress - Anna Paquin

1993 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia – Best Screenplay - Jane Campion

1993 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia – Best Music Score - Michael Nyman

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Film - Jan Chapman

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Direction - Jane Campion

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Screenplay - Jane Campion

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Holly Hunter

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Harvey Keitel

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Cinematography - Stuart Dryburgh

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Original Music Score - Michael Nyman

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Sound - Gethin Creagh, Tony Johnson, Annabelle Sheehan, Lee Smith and Peter Townend

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Production Design - Andrew McAlpine

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Costume Design - Janet Patterson

1993 — Australian Film Institute – Best Achievement in Editing - Veronika Jenet

1993 — Cannes Film Festival – Palme d'Or, Best Film (shared) - Jan Chapman

1993 — Cannes Film Festival – Best Actress - Holly Hunter

Screenings

1993 — Birmingham International Film Festival

1994 — Foster's Export Australian Film Festival

1993 — New York Film Festival

1997 — Stuttgart Filmwinter Festival

2000 — International Thessaloniki Festival

1996 — Valladolid International Film Festival

1993 — Vancouver International Film Festival

1993 — Edinburgh International Film Festival

1993 — Cannes Film Festival

1999 — Creteil Film Des Femmes Festival

2024 — Locarno International Film Festival

2024 — San Sebastian International Film Festival

1993 — Telluride Film Festival

1993 — Toronto International Film Festival

2023 — The Sydney Film Festival

Sales

Australian Sales

International Sales

TF1 (Societe Nationale TV Francaise)

Production Company

Jan Chapman Films Pty Ltd

Piano, The

Synopsis

Cast and Crew

Director

Writer

Producer

Director of Photography

Editor

Production Designer

Costume Designer

Hair Designer

Make Up Designer