Year: 2001
Country: Austria, France, Germany
Director: Michael Haneke
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel, Susanne Lothar, Udo Samel
Genre: drama
Runtime: 131 min.
Age: 18+
Erika Kohut is a pianist, teaching music. Schubert and Schumann are her forte, but she's not quite at concert level. She's approaching middle age, living with her mother who is domineering then submissive; Erika is a victim then combative. With her students she is severe. She visits a sex shop to watch DVDs; she walks a drive-in theater to stare at couples having sex. Walter is a self-assured student with some musical talent; he auditions for her class and is forthright in his attraction to her. She responds coldly then demands he let her lead.
Awards & Festivals:
Cannes Film Festival – Grand Prix, Best Actress, Best Actor
European Academy Award – Best Actress
BAFTA Award Nomination – Best Foreign Language Film
Cesar Award Nomination – Best Supporting Actress