Pianiste, La [The Piano Teacher] (2001) - Michael Haneke

Erika (Isabelle Huppert) is a French piano teacher at the Vienna Conservatory in Austria. At a recital she meets the young, talented and attractive Walter Klemmer (Benoit Magimel). Their meeting kicks off an obsessive and counter-obsessive sexual relationship delving into perverse sexuality and extraordinary mind games based on humiliation and abuse.

Adapted from the semi-autobiographical novel by Elfriede Jelenik of the same name, and directed with skilled craftsmanship by Michael Haneke, this is a seriously intense movie which surpasses the levels of human debauchery explored in films by Larry Clark and David Cronenberg.

The acting by Huppert is truly superb, and you believe her character every step of the way. Her young student Magimel is also impressive, although certainly dwarfed by Huppert’s experience and talent and sheer onscreen presence. Perhaps that is as it should be, given the nature of the story.

Cast
Isabelle Huppert, Benoit Magimel, Annie Girardot.

Awards
Grand Jury, Best Actress and Actor Awards, Cannes International Film Festival, from May 9 to 20, 2001. Best 2001 European Actress, European Film Academy Awards, Nov. 1, 2001 in Berlin. Cesar Best Supporting Actress for Annie Giradot, Cescar Nuit, March 6, 2001. Cesar Best Actress nomination.