I feel like a cheat. This film is technically a Spanish film, but lucky for you, it’s all in English and has a familiar face in Elijah Wood! So no arguments! Grand Piano features some great editing, some great music, and a load of tension. This thriller was what Whiplash director Damian Chazelle was doing before he became famous (he wrote the script for this one).
Why Watch Grand Piano?
- You’ll be surprised at how tense a piano recital can be.
- For a classic ‘break a leg’ pun-ending (if you watch it, you’ll see what I mean – no spoilers!)
- You can’t text and drive, but this guy can text and play piano!
- Did you like Whiplash? Try this!
The Breakdown
This film opens with some sexy shots of a curvy grand piano in all it’s sleekness. A group of men carry start moving a grand piano out of a big mansion (with a picture of our protagonist Tom with an old man on the side). They carefully move the piano into a removal van for shipping. Meanwhile Tom (our pianist) is on a plane flying into Chicago. He wishes the plane would crash. But his wish is not answered. He cannot escape playing at the concert.
After meeting his wife before the concert, Tom is alone for a lot of his screen-time. He is alone in the changing room whilst everyone else is getting into their positions. He is alone on the walk up to the piano, and he is alone at the piano, which is elevated over the rest of the orchestra. Tom is on an island and the director isolates him in the shots he features in. As a result, we can see his fear of repeating his previous failures. The stakes are also much higher when it’s just you. (The focus on Tom also allows Elijah Wood to have the whole lime-light).
Another effect to look out for is the director’s editing. It makes playing the piano look a lot more exciting than you think. If you want a comparison, go onto YouTube and search for a piano tutorial. Most of the time, it’s just an image of someone’s fingers playing (shot from above), or a side shot of the whole person. Rarely do they get any more exciting than that on YouTube. However, on the big screen, the cutting from Tom’s dancing fingers to his anxious face builds some Hitchcock-esque tension. (The big swivel shots could also be a metaphor for the swivels Tom’s head is going through).
Whilst the plot may not be to the liking of some, I thought it was an entertaining thrill ride. It serves as a perfect example of how to shoot a musician and a perfect option before or after you watch Whiplash. However, this is a Spanish film, so no marks for watching it. Grand Piano is pretty much a Hollywood film so come back and watch something like Embrace of the Serpent for a challenge next week!
For ‘real’ German cinema, look no further than here. For this is the New German Cinema of the 1960s-1980s, a cinema where commercial interests were kicked out of the window. In The Merchant of Four Seasons, you will see the real Germany of the 1950s in it’s grim glory. You’ll see everything commercial films won’t show you: class prejudices, domestic violence, and depression. Watch this film if you’re intrigued!
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