Ao Lado da Pianista

This is a French movie and why I selected to see this movie was because it was running for a long time in Amsterdam. I thought that it must be a good movie. I had seen the trailer earlier and as I do not understand French I found it to be a homely movie. But that was not the case, when I read the reviews before seeing the movie – I understood that it was a thriller.

So I got more interested and went to see it. The usher of the hall – looked like did not expect a colored Asian to come and see this movie – may be she did not see any in its 14 week run in the theatres. So when she saw me – she stopped me to check whether I am entering the right hall or not – and yes I was – I was going to see a French movie – La tourneuse de pages – meaning the turning of pages.

It is a beautifully told story about a young gifted girl who is a very good piano player. She wants to get admission in a music school – but fails at the admission test because one of the lady jury member is arrogant not to give an autograph to her mother, but to show off in front of other jury members – gives autograph to someone in the middle of this girls performance; in turn unintentionally distracting her and loosing her concentration, ending up not being selected. This leaves a deep scarce inside this girl's mind, who abandons playing piano.

The next scene spans after 10 years, when this girl is grown up and is appointed to work in a lawyer's firm. The owner of the firm is the husband of that female jury member because of whom this girl was not able to pursue her interest in music - playing piano. The remaining part of the story is about this young girl's revenge to this lady jury member. The young girl is played by beautiful Deborah Francois – who plays every emotion of the innocent young girl's character with perfect ease and comfort. All the credit to the director Denis Dercourt who uses images to transfer the thoughts going on the character's mind with such ease on screen. The story unfolds – we as audience expecting what are the next thing this girl is going to do? I would not tell the tactic the girl uses – it is really very interesting and people who want to study the portrayal of psychological intent on screen – should study the scenes, characters and the on screen incidents.

At the end of the movie – I was actually waiting for something more to happen and was disappointed that the movie got over so fast. Full credit to the other character of the lady jury member – Catherine Frot – who has displayed a decent, typically wealthy lady's character – by going into the skin of what this elite people do or behave.

Worth watching.

Not once does the page turner (Melanie) reveal her thoughts throughout the action of this incredibly engaging story. Melanie's performance is one of such extraordinary deftness that the revenge she wreaks is brought upon her 'persecutors' by their own actions. 'Butter wouldn't melt' is a phrase a wise observer would wryly make of this wily operator. There is just the hint of a social comment around the social and economic class differences between the pianist and the page turner. Melanie is clearly a Leveller. In a sense, Melanie gives a virtuoso performance, dedicating herself to the quiet study and execution of her plan. Melanie leaves, dignity intact, after delivering the ultimate cure for narcissism.

Young village butcher's daughter Mélanie fails a piano competition because she is distracted by the rudeness of one of the musician jurors. Having given up on music, she finds herself in Paris many years later, taking on a placement at the juror's husband's law firm, who invites her into his home as a nanny for the holidays. The question is, of course, will she take revenge on the juror, and if so, how?

Old-school drama, presented timelessly by an excellent pair of actresses. There are many beautiful little touches to keep the tension high, ranging from the juror's son's fascination with 'how many seconds can I stay underwater' to the butcher's daughter hacking away at the preparation of dinner. It would be a shame to divulge the countless other little details put into the film as we follow the young, pretty Mélanie in the Juror's household, as it is in the details that lies the fascination. And it is that fascination which has to hold you captive, which it will, despite the simplicity of the script.

Director Denis Dercourt's film is a compelling drama set in contemporary France. Mélanie (Julie Richalet) is an aspiring 10-year old pianist, preparing for her conservatory exam. Her audition goes badly when her concentration is broken by a commotion involving the head of the jury Ariane Fouchécourt (Catherine Frot), a renowned concert performer who behaves badly towards the aspiring pianist. Ten years pass, and Mélanie (now played by Déborah François) lands a coveted job at a law firm working for Monsieur Fouchécourt (Pascal Greggory). Mélanie makes a big impression on her patron, and she is recruited as an au-pair at his estate. She quickly becomes an indispensable member of the family, and intimate with Pascal's wife, who by now is struggling to maintain her illustrious career. Melanie is recruited to turn the pages of music during the make-or-break performance by Ariane and revenge appears to be the order of the day. An absolutely stunning performance by Belgian actress Déborah François, who was the lead in the award-winning L'Infant last year. Dercourt's use of silence to convey meaning and intention is remarkable, and has led to comparisons with the legendary Claude Chabrol (who directed L'Enfer with Emmanuelle Béart.)

I recently saw this at the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Once you can get past the implausible beginning that sets the stage for the rest of the film it becomes a good psychological thriller. Mélanie is a talented young pianist giving a conservatory entrance exam recital that is cut short by being distracted by the thoughtlessness of a famous concert pianist who is one of her judges. Years later as a grown young woman she puts herself in a position to seek her revenge on the woman who was that judge at her recital exam when she was a young girls aspiring for a career as a classical pianist. Déborah François as Mélane gives a good performance as the page turner and although it is a one-dimensional performance I guess that is what the role calls for. Catherine Frot is very good as Ariane, the concert pianist on whom Mélanie plots her revenge by inserting herself into her household and career. Very good music from Jérôme Lemonnier who wrote the score for the film. Additional piano pieces from Bach, Shostakovitch and Schubert. Dennis Dercourt directs a story he co-wrote with Jaques Sotty. The story has it's flaws but overall it delivers as a good film that I would give a 7.5 out of 10 and recommend it.