Special Report: The Piano Teacher (2001)

Based on the 1983 book by Elfriede Jelinek, Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher (2001) stars Isabelle Huppert as our titular pedagogue. She’s a woman trapped in a harrowing relationship with her mother. She is abused and belittled at home only to turn around and do the same to her students. Things change when she meets Walter Klemmer (Benoît Magimel) who is a bit obsessed with his prickly piano teacher, leading to a mutually dissatisfying relationship between the pair.

Jared Bauer (Show Me The Meaning) and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) join Mike to discuss this harrowing film.