The Piano Lesson

August Wilson's work has been an important part of theater work in the Black Communities. Achieving many themes and style approaches that other plays haven't approached before hand.

With the Piano Lesson, while not perfect, it still remains an intense dialogue-filled journey. Throughout, the ambitious direction and atmosphere of The Piano Lesson is successful with it's narrative setting and ground. Exploring themes of slavery, trauma, horror, and Black American society that are interesting. With solid camerawork, production designs, and strong performances from the entire cast, especially Danielle Deadwyler whom I believe will get more recognition in the near future.

The narrative, although it feels a bit long and dragged on some components, it achieves as it's characters and good dialogue moments are investing and engaging. The presentation color is a bit dull, some of the pacing was a bit too dry, and the worst aspect was the musical score, the score felt overdramatic and at times, ruined some of the best scenes that could have been a bit more impactful.

Overall, I do recommend it for those who love August Wilson.

The Piano Lesson, delves into the lives of a Black family grappling with their history during a time marked by oppression and loss. The story focuses on Bernice (Danielle Deadwyler) and her daughter, who live with her uncle Doaker (Samuel L. Jackson). The plot unfolds as Bernice's brother, Boy Willie (John David Washington), visits, and we gradually uncover the family's past, including the mystery of Bernice's late husband and the deep significance of their treasured piano.

The film explores weighty themes such as Black slavery, grief, guilt, single motherhood, and moral dilemmas. Adapted from August Wilson's play, part of his celebrated Pittsburgh Cycle (which also includes Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), the movie carries a similar pacing and tone, though it feels closer to Fences in structure.

Danielle Deadwyler delivers an outstanding performance, portraying Bernice with emotional depth and nuance. She is undoubtedly a rising star, evoking comparisons to Viola Davis. Her performance deserves serious awards consideration. By contrast, I found John David Washington's portrayal of Boy Willie overacted, making it harder to connect with his character. Samuel L. Jackson and Ray Fisher (as Lymon) brought solid supporting performances, grounding the narrative effectively.

The cinematography and direction were immersive, giving the house and the piano a lived-in, almost iconic feel. The dialogue is beautifully written, seamlessly weaving past and present. While I found the ending slightly overdone, the film's overall impact remains strong.

I would rate The Piano Lesson a 7/10-higher than Ma Rainey's Black Bottom but slightly behind Fences. Danielle Deadwyler's performance alone makes this film worth watching, and the music and writing are nothing short of masterful.

I was really hoping I'd love this, but I didn't. It was visually authentic, but the music was completely destroyed! How do you miss on something as important as the music, in this play??? The "Berta Berta" scene was completely altered, and "Rambling, Gambling Man" was nowhere to be found. Damn shame. They also never show the Yellow Dog train, just smoke! What?

Don't get me started on how stupid they made Lymon. He wasn't dumb in the play, just lonely, naive, and sensitive. I really hated his portrayal. Secondly, Charles Dutton will forever be my favorite Boy Willie. Baby boy Washington just wasn't getting it.

It's not completely messed up, just too different for my tastes. The Washingtons should have just kept the classic aspects in tact.

I caught this at a Tiff screening on Sept 11, 2024 and it did not disappoint. The film is adapted by a play of the same name by August Wilson, which follows two siblings, one who want to sell a precious family heirloom (Washington), a piano, for money, the other (Deadwyler) who wants to keep it. The acting in the film, especially from Deadwyler is unreal; you cannot avert your eyes from her performance, as well as strong supporting actors the entire time. The film itself, while the slightest bit too long, is very well made. Malcolm Washington comes in strong with his directorial feature debut, and has a promising future ahead. The film is deeply disturbing and at times plays a bit too much into supernatural elements, but overall, if you are looking for a good thriller with great performances, this should be on your radar when it releases on Netflix.

I was surprised at the low rating for this film. I was not familiar with the play or the previous movie version, however, like other August Wilson's work, I really liked it. There was some strong acting and a it's a moving and memorable story.

Again, as in her acting in Till, I was so impressed with Danielle Deadwylers performance. She is definitely a stand out. I hope she get the accolades she deserves during the award season.

The story deals with slavery, a subject many are uncomfortable with, however it is a major part of American history. I thought it was handled thoughtfully. Don't let the subject matter stop you from seeing this!