The Piano Teacher

The Piano Teacher delves into the complex and disturbed inner world of its protagonist, Erika Kohut (played by Isabelle Huppert). Erika is a talented and dedicated piano teacher at a prestigious Vienna conservatory, where she is highly respected for her musical expertise. However, beneath her composed facade lies a woman tormented by deep-rooted emotional and psychological issues.

Erika's life takes a tumultuous turn when she becomes involved with one of her students, Walter Klemmer (played by Benoît Magimel). A talented and handsome young man, Walter is drawn to Erika and expresses a genuine interest in her. Unfortunately, their relationship takes a dark and twisted turn as Erika's emotional instability and repressed desires escalate.

The Piano Teacher is a deeply unsettling and psychologically complex film that delves into the intricate layers of human desire and emotional isolation. Throughout the intense plot lines and disturbed characters, it explores the destructive consequences of societal norms and the suffocating expectations imposed on individuals - especially women - in conservative environments.

Release: 2001

Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%