I was hooked, invested, and compelled to watch from the first three scenes. The darkness, distraught music, and visual sadness drew me in, and I became submerged in the story.
Before I get too deep into my review, I want to share a few things for those who may not know. Netflix’s “The Piano Lesson” is based on a play of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson. It was written in 1987 as part of Wilson’s The Pittsburg Cycle, which includes the highly lauded “Fences.” It was first turned into a movie in 1995 with a cast that included Charles S. Dutton, Alfre Woodard, and Courtney B. Vance. This is the version that I first became acquainted with, and it is a tough act to follow because the acting in this rendition was superb.
Netflix’s “The Piano Lesson” became available on the streaming service on November 22nd, 2024. It was directed by Malcolm Washington and produced by his father, Denzel Washington, for Mundy Lane Entertainment (The Preacher’s Wife, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). “The Piano Lesson” stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler, with a special musical appearance by Erykah Badu.
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Set in post-Depression era Pittsburgh, “The Piano Lesson” focuses on the Charles Family and the antique heirloom piano passed down through generations. The piano features hand-carved images of The Charles’ enslaved ancestors, making it the only thing they have left of their past. Their mother left the piano to Boy Willie and his sister Berniece, who are split as to what to do with it. Boy Willie wants to sell it and use the proceeds to buy land that his ancestors toiled, and Berniece wants to keep it in the family as a visual representation of their legacy.
Boy Willie Charles (John David Washington) is passionate about buying land to create his legacy. Sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) is deadset against it because their mother was attached to the piano and the heartache that went with it.
I felt Berniece’s pain when she shared why she wanted to keep the piano, and I was in tears. But I also understood where Boy Willie was coming from, creating a torn tension I experienced throughout the film. There’s a continuous push and pull that attaches to your emotions, which makes “The Piano Lesson” powerful viewing.
The tension alongside the musical score will have you on the edge of your seat.
The vivid flashbacks and an iconic retelling of how the piano came to be, combined with the cinematography, direction, and acting talent, make this a gem.
Themes of women’s empowerment and self-respect shine through Danielle Deadwyler’s portrayal of Berniece, and this becomes a tale that women in 2024 can also identify with.
There’s also an ancestral ghost and supernatural visions that add to a climax ending.
Netflix’s “The Piano Lesson” hits all the right notes, and I highly recommend this for required viewing. Mr. August Wilson would be proud.
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