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The Piano Lesson

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The Piano Lesson

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Summary

Drama based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, starring Samuel L Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler. In 1930s Pittsburgh, Berniece and her daughter Mareetha live with her uncle, where the family heirloom, a piano etched with carvings by an enslaved ancestor, has not been played since her mother died. However, when Berniece's brother Boy Willie arrives and suggests selling it to buy land, the family is divided on the need to look after the instrument's legacy.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

James Mottram

August Wilson's Pulitzer prize-winning 1987 stage drama is brought to the screen in this well-meaning effort that struggles to escape its theatrical origins. Set in 1936, the story centres on a family heirloom: a piano that holds spiritual and historical significance. It sits in the home of one Doaker Charles (a shrewd Samuel L Jackson), whose nephew Boy Willie (John David Washington) wants to sell the instrument to buy land. As squabbles ensue, this proves a real actor's piece. Most of the ensemble cast worked on a 2022 Broadway revival of the play and their intimacy with the text shines through. But the stand-out is Danielle Deadwyler (Till) as Boy Willie's devout sibling Berniece; her sensuality glows, especially in one erotic, perfume-doused scene. This is the third Wilson adaptation to be produced by Denzel Washington, following Fences (2016) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), and his youngest son, Malcolm, directs. Unfortunately, the material's impact is dented here by sluggish pacing and a confined setting - at least until a fabulist ending that you really won't see coming.

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6.1/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameDoaker CharlesSamuel L JacksonBoy WillieJohn David WashingtonBernieceDanielle DeadwylerLymonRay FisherAvery BrownCorey HawkinsWining BoyMichael PottsMarethaSkylar Aleece SmithBoy CharlesStephan JamesLucilleErykah Badu

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Crew

rolenameDirectorMalcolm Washington

Details

Released on

2024-11-22

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, racism

Formats

Colour

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