The Piano

The first feature film script I read was Jane Campion’s, The Piano. 🎥 🎹 The bronte-esque gothic drama tells the story of a 1850s mute woman who moves to New Zealand with her daughter and piano to marry a New Zealander. 🛶

Prior to the release of this film, 19th century New Zealand has a history of being misrepresented such as the exotic greek dress and romanticised version of the pacific in Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique. The removal indigenous characters from their historical and political space destroys any historical meaning to the characters.

The Piano is a historic piece of New Zealand Film that encourages a corrective future for post-colonial narratives. Jane Campion will always be the person who paved a way for enlightened and inspired artists in New Zealand to share their unique perspective. 🇳🇿

Movie: Jane Campion, The Piano, 1993, winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival

Artwork: Lisa Reihana, In Pursuit of Venus [Infected], 2015