The Piano Lesson2024-09-30
Vancouver, BC
It's like it couldn't pick a direction to commit to -- the supernatural angle to it felt pretty out of place. The family drama side, however, had potential, but I wish it spent more time developing those characters, maybe leveraging more flashbacks and relying less on everything taking place in the present. Tight performances all around -- the cast was given a TON of dialogue to work with, and while it was a bit tiring to consume at times, it did feel like they gave it their all. And it might be just my reservations towards any film with the Netflix logo plastered onto it, but it felt claustrophobic in its approach, rarely building onto much more than the set pieces within the family's home. I would have loved to see more on-location filming to develop the movie world and the family's place in the community and the country, particularly to give it a grander, more filmic approach, rather than a rehash of the play it's based off of.
My first film at VIFF 2024, and actually my first film at a film festival of any kind! Screened at the Vancouver Playhouse in downtown Vancouver.
My first film at VIFF 2024, and actually my first film at a film festival of any kind! Screened at the Vancouver Playhouse in downtown Vancouver.