I never really wondered about female movie directors. The thought just never, ever crossed my mind. What made it worse is since there are so few what were the chances that I have seen any movies made by a woman. So how am I supposed to speak about how the film is made if I didn't watch the movie. Anyway...
Jane Champion is a New Zealand native and is one of only four women ever nominated for the director Oscar. Campion is the second of four women ever nominated. A director now for over 25 years, Campion's most recent effort was 2009 Bright Star. Her best film to date was "The Piano" in 2003 with this film she was nominated for the academy award.
Female filmmakers still aren't getting the same recognition or opportunities that male directors do. The Cannes Film Festival also has a poor record in recognizing the achievements of women directors, and last year the festival came under fire when not a single one of the 18 films selected for the main competition were directed by women.
I am actually going to try to watch the movie " the piano" now before I continue this... Come on Netflix!
The movie is described by IMDB as "A mute woman along with her young daughter, and her prized piano, are sent to 1850s New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, and she's soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation."
This movie to me screams "directed by a woman!" it pays so much attention to the subject of the film (Aida) who is a mute as she travels to New Zealand for an arranged marriage. The movie is centered around her. We feel her pain when we see the abuse she suffers at the hand of her new husband.
As the video below shows she has her fingers chopped off by her husband when her finds out about the romance she had with a native laborer. This laborer was so enamored by Aida that he traded 80 acres of his land for Aida's piano which was left on the beach by her husband. He then has Aida come over to his house and teach him piano lessons. A successful ploy because he had ulterior sexual motives which were ultimately fulfilled.
Just a note this scene is brutal. I even cringed so be careful .
Works Cited:
Meta Critic:
IMDB Profile
Netflix Movie
Piano Review from Ew.com
The Piano 1993 IMDb
I love Campion's film An Angel at My Table. I didn't know anything about poet Janet Frame before watching the film but the way Jane Campion told Frame's story of growing up in New Zealand, her life as a poet, and struggling with mental health problems was so compelling. You should see it if you like Campion!
ReplyDelete"The Piano" was a remarkable film, because it hit a troubling subject of a mute woman dealing with an abusive husband and forbidden love. When the female character's finger got ax off, her face was so brave and strong. It's a perfect example of being a strong woman to endure pain, and the piano was a representation of herself. Is the reason why her lover got her piano back, and prove the strength of their relationship and her courage.
ReplyDelete