Her Head in Films

Jane Campion's 'The Piano' (1993)

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In this episode, I talk about the mysterious power and beauty of Jane Campion's 1993 film, "The Piano." It stars Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath, a Scottish woman who goes to New Zealand with her daughter, Flora, for an arranged marriage to Alisdair Stewart. Their marriage is troubled from the start, and Ada ends up falling for George Baines. I share my memories of watching the film for the first time and talk about themes of muteness, violence against women, and the complicated relationship between Ada and Baines.

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Full Show Notes

  • Dave Grohl quote about Billie Eilish
  • My episode on Jonathan Glazer's Birth
  • My episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • My episode on La Jetée
  • My episode on James Ivory's Maurice
  • My episode on Girl with a Pearl Earring
  • My episode on Nancy Savoca's Dogfight
  • My episode on The Enchanted Cottage
  • My episode on Patricia Cardoso's Real Women Have Curves
  • The Piano novel by Jane Campion and Kate Pullinger

    • All My Sources

    • Jane Campion: In the Scene by Ellen Cheshire
    • Senses of Cinema profile of Jane Campion
    • Alicia Malone's interview with Holly Hunter for Filmstruck
    • Michael Nyman and Jane Campion on creating the soundtrack for the
      • film (The Guardian)
    • 20 Years After The Piano, We've All Failed Holly Hunter (The
      • Atlantic)
    • bell hooks's essay that includes critiques of The Piano
    • Colonialism in The Piano (Cinema Oceania)
    • Romanticizing Colonialism: Power and Pleasure in Jane Campion's The
      • Piano by Reshela DuPuis
      ...more
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