THE PIANO LESSON August Wilson’s Ghoulish Tale| In UK cinemas now | Review by Be Manzini
A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the centre stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.
Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, THE PIANO LESSON explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence – revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy. The film is directed and co-written by Malcolm Washington in his feature directorial debut. From Oscar nominated producers Denzel Washington and Todd Black, and featuring an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.
REVIEW: My learning, having reviewed many adaptations, is it’s terribly hard to remove a previous experience of having read or seen a play; so I came to The Piano Lesson as unbiased as I could by not having done either. However with cast members, the director and the producers all being of the Washington family, alongside the core story being siblings at odds about a family heirloom (a piano) and their respective futures, I couldn’t but hope this production hit all the right notes.
Debut Director & co-writer Malcolm Washington (co-written with Virgil Williams) made some daring and engaging choices from the onset, this alongside the mesmerising soundscape, subdued and moody cinematography had me attentive from the start. As did the curiosity of where this work would sit as part of a growing and impeccable catalogue of films based on August Wilson’s plays including Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The Piano Lesson, even with a much more theatrical leaning than the others similarly, has charming and outstanding moments. Starting with Danielle Deadwyler (whose performance in Till left me in shreds) as sister Berniece, there was no doubt her talent was apt for the role as a traumatised African-American woman descendent from a family with the harsh history of enslavement. The story unravels inch by painful inch; the death of Bernice’s husband (father to her young daughter) adding to the kaleidoscope of brutal events.
I only worry that Deadwyler has been somewhat type cast, perhaps a tad protective of me of Black women in the industry, particularly one whose skill and power is yet to be sufficiently acknowledged. This is by no means any criticism of such stellar performances but perhaps ironic as with the characters, Deadwyler is so adept at playing, I want to see her not to have to fight so hard for what rightfully should be hers.
Samuel L. Jackson is captivating as uncle Doaker particularly in his monologue and at one point song; with an astute balance between staying within the interior of his character and the reality of this place and time (1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression) while he subtly finesses the camera. John David Washington as brother Boy Willie has his on screen moments as the ambitious, troublesome sibling to Bernice; alongside a cast that includes Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Skylar Aleece Smith, Corey Hawkins and a pleasingly unexpected appearance from Erykah Badu. However he, at times, contributes to the suspension of belief being lost in this 2 hour adaptation; where the climax came a tad late and the resolution stormed in at the last.
With all that said and done not only should this trio of films, that The Piano Lesson is now part of, exist but furthermore be studied. With the Washington clan (Katia & Denzel Washington produce) confidently at the helm of the cinematic renditions of Wilson’s great works, let’s hope there are many more to come.
Director: Malcolm Washington
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean, with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins
Screenplay by: Virgil Williams & Malcolm Washington
THE PIANO LESSON is in select UK cinemas now and on Netflix this Friday, November 22nd.
REVIEW by Be Manzini
Be Manzini is a Poet, Film Maker & Spoken Word Artist. Be is known for her ability to create universal and nurturing spaces as a workshop facilitator. A writer and speaker who has been resident at the Southbank Centre, a regular panelist for film, and Judge for the innovative Visionary Honours awards, Manzini is also the director of Caramel Film Club, spotlighting Black talent and supporting diversity.
