The Piano Lesson – Movie Review
First Reaction – The Piano Lesson is fantastic performance driven story.
Watch The Piano Lesson on Netflix now.
Director: Malcolm Washington
Writer: Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington (Screenplay)
Writer: August Wilson (Play)
Cast
- Samuel L Jackson (Pulp Fiction)
- John David Washington (Tenet)
- Danielle Deadwyler (Till)
- Ray Fisher (Justice League)
- Corey Hawkins (The Last Voyage of the Demeter)
Plot: Follows the lives of the Charles family as they deal with themes of family legacy and more, in deciding what to do with an heirloom, the family piano.
Runtime: 2 Hours 5 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Piano Lesson starts when Boy Willie (Washington) visits his family Doaker (Jackson) and Berniece (Deadwyler). He has plans to buy land and needs three things to sell. Along with Lymon (Fisher), they plan on selling watermelons and his other land. However, the third one is Berniece’s piano.
However, Boy Willie’s plans become difficult when he learns Berniece has no plans to sell the piano. Doaker informs him of the piano’s history and what it means to Berniece, but this doesn’t stop Boy Willie from trying to convince her.
Verdict on The Piano Lesson
Recap
This movie follows the lives of one black family trying to make something for themselves in an evolving America. It follows one ambitious one and others with stories from their connection to slavery. We see how they clash over things but as a family look to fix their lives for the best.
Best Parts
The story shows how different generations have adapted to the changes in America, even if they are still haunted by what their ancestors went through. As we see the different generations trying to make the most, the haunting side of their lives can consume them. The performances are fantastic, and every single performer gets to shine in their moments. The story does show us how the damaging effects of what happened in the world can continue to hold families back.
Final Thoughts – The Piano Lesson is a brilliant drama with outstanding performances.