The Piano Teacher
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Michael Haneke
Isabelle Huppert
Annie Girardot
Benoît Magimel
Anna Sigalevitch
Susanne Lothar
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Erika Kohut is a piano teacher at the Vienna Conservatory, a prestigious music school in Vienna. In her early forties and single, she lives with her overprotective and controlling mother in a hermetically sealed world of love-hate and dependency, where there is no room for men. Her sex life consists of voyeurism and masochistic self-injury. Lonely and alienated, Erika finds solace by visiting sex shops and experimenting with masochism. At a a recital, she befriends Walter, a handsome young man, whom she seduces and with whom she begins an illicit affair. As Erika slowly drifts closer to the brink of emotional disorder, she uses the love-stricken Walter to explore her darkest sado-masochistic fantasies, which eventually lead to her undoing.
Director
Michael Haneke
Cast
Isabelle Huppert
Annie Girardot
Benoît Magimel
Anna Sigalevitch
Susanne Lothar
Udo Samel
Crew
Martin Achenbach
Annette Beaufays
Christian Berger
Christian Berger
Yvon Crenn
Yvon Crenn
Monica Donati
Christine Gozlan
Michael Haneke
Veit Heiduschka
Elfriede Jelinek
Christoph Kanter
Marin Karmitz
Michael Katz
Jean-pierre Laforce
Nadine Muse
Hanus Polak Jr.
Alain Sarde
Guillaume Sciama
Monika Willi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert) at the 2002 Seattle International Film Festival.
Winner of the 2002 award for Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert) by the San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Winner of the 2001 Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress (Annie Girardot).
Winner of the Best Actress Award (Isabelle Huppert) at the 2001 European Film Awards.
Winner of three awards, including the Grand Prix, Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert) and Best Actor (Benoit Magimel) at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival.
Released in United States Spring March 29, 2002
Released in United States April 12, 2002
Released in United States on Video November 5, 2002
Released in United States September 2001
Released in United States November 2001
Released in United States 2002
Shown at San Sebastian International Film Festival (in competition) September 20-29, 2001.
Shown at London Film Festival (Evening Standard Film on the Square) November 7-22, 2001.
Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) May 23 - June 16, 2002.
Jeanne Moreau was previously attached to star.
Alain Sarde and Marin Karmitz reportedly provided 50% of the budget with support coming from Arte, Eurimages, and France's advance-against-receipts program. Other 50% came from Austria's Wega ProducktionFilms.
Began shooting August 14, 2000.
Completed shooting October 27, 2000.
Released in United States Spring March 29, 2002 (NY)
Released in United States April 12, 2002 (Los Angeles)
Released in United States on Video November 5, 2002
Released in United States September 2001 (Shown at San Sebastian International Film Festival (in competition) September 20-29, 2001.)
Released in United States November 2001 (Shown at London Film Festival (Evening Standard Film on the Square) November 7-22, 2001.)
Released in United States 2002 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) May 23 - June 16, 2002.)
