The Piano Teacher - Review

by Sofia

Female sexuality is a concept that is commonly misunderstood, in his film, Haneke explores this torturous, all-consuming confusion. 

Erika is a very special character to me, she covers herself in layers of frigidity and cruelty to the public eye, hiding vulnerability. Yet, throughout the film, Erika demonstrates that she isn't what she tries so hard to appear to be, she is, deep down, a perverted, scared, vulnerable girl, with a deep intrinsic need for love. However, her perspective on love is so warped considering her relationship with her mother, love, to Erika, is control, a mere power struggle between individuals where agreement and harmony can never be found. While she is an incredible pianist, her knowledge of love is messy and sloppy, often off-key or not following the correct rhythm. 

But she craves it nonetheless and tries to explore it through Walter, attempting to regain a powerlessness she pretends to not possess. However, as the teacher she is, she attempts to control her desire to be powerless, giving Walter instructions concerning how he is to treat her. He rejects this with disgust, leading her to beg him to do what he wants, essentially demanding the same things differently. It is particularly poignant to see a woman be at the mercy of someone so much younger than her, this intermingling of pre-existing power dynamics offers such an intricate analysis of the complexities of human relationships. 

After the rape, Erika's confusion has turned even greater, all culminating in the brief, but powerful final scene. This is a scene that I felt deeply, in it, you can see her disassociation from herself, her eyes wandering around, searching for one person, and one person in particular. It is unclear what this could symbolise particularly. For me, I see it as she has completely surrendered herself, her craving for Walter's affection has overtaken her identity. She is looking for him but doesn't know why, is she going to kill him, fall at his feet, embrace him, rejoice to see him or run away? Simultaneously she also wonders what his reaction will be to seeing her after the events that transpired the night before. When they finally see each other, his nonchalant attitude and words present a gut-wrenching feeling to Erika. While she has completely lost herself, he seems perfectly fine, as though what had happened was meaningless and Erika's pain is unshared and she must live with it by herself. A thought that often overcomes women and their sexual experiences with men is the thought: "Is this it? Is this all I am getting? All I deserve? " A feeling of eternal unsatisfaction.