Haunting! Perfect!

This movie can be called a masterpiece! Regardless of the plot, the director knew how to make the audience tremble of emotion. The picture and the music are subtly arranged to accent the deep constrast in the personality of the pianist (the movie's original name). I particularly enjoyed the take when the protagonist's other side is first revealed: after rehearsing Schubert, the music stays in the background while the piano teacher walks through a mall and ends in a porno boutique.… Expand

One of the few films out this year that provokes intense discussion. If only most of the Hollywood junk that people are forced to see (by relentless advertising) could come close to this, wouldn't going to the cinema be a rich experience indeed!

... I'm still in shock!

This is an excellent film with some quite overwhelming scenes, especially when the power of the acting is at the fore. Huppert and Magimel are simply outstanding and both fully deserved the awards at Cannes. Huppert perfectly displayed the countenance of a troubled middle-aged woman battling her demons. Magimel was equally brilliant, initially portaying the picture of the hunting dog, then the fox on the run, and then finally the caged lion. Girardot too, who played the mother, was quite exceptional, not overemphasising her character but imbuing enough oomph to make her demanding to watch. I thought the direction and (to a lesser degree) the cinematography were fascinating in this film - with the aid of the acting, it was an absorbing, albeit uncomfortable, film to watch. This is not a film I will queue up for repeated viewings of...but for a one-off movie experience, this is gripping stuff!… Expand

Much head-shaking and jaw-dropping going on over here. "The Piano Teacher" is not a passive moviegoing experience. It's a freak-show gussied up. To be more accurate, the talent at work here helps transcend an exploitation film into high art. Michael Haneke gets Isabelle Huppert to do things that might even make David Lynch blush. But the power of this film is undeniable. Some scenes, it's like all the adjectives in the English language are applicable. Credit Heneke, but everything would collapse into a farce if not for the verve of his leading lady. They should name an acting statuette after Huppert. You will think about her character at least once the next day, with pity or revulsion, or more likely, both. … Expand

It is a great movie to individuals who have a high understanding of art, especially classical music. The movies metaphors the differences between Bach in Baroque era and Schubert in Romantic era. The piano trio by Schubert is a symbol of the emotional of the protangonist, Erika. And the music of Bach shows balance and stability is a symbol of Bach. An excellent movie with great music.

A superb movie, in which I really didn't know how to feel for the protagonist- sorry? like? dislike? The cold direction and cinematography, and the excellence of the actors made this seem so real. Throughout the film, you want to feel a sense of satisfaction, but we are never given it. It's a cold, shocking and brilliant film.

This film is excellent !!!

The performance by Isabelle Huppert only topped a spectacularly shocking and powerful film by Haneke. Equally as good as "Code Unknown," his previous film.