Haneke is an amazing director. This film deals with socially taboo themes and stark social realism. Sexual repression and sadomasochism are key themes as a sexual relationship between a teacher and student is explored. Confronting, but taut in its acting and direction.

An extreme inspection on the highly disturbing and worrying behaviours of a woman approaching her elderly stages and her relationship with a much younger and thoroughly handsome male. Haneke avoids motifs and usual character arcs, making this an uneasy viewing experience, but the incredibly fine performances (both winners at Cannes 2001) make this unwatchable-can't-turn-away film of shock upon shock into a romantic-comedy like no other.

"Michael Haneke's latest torture mechanism is less funny game than daunting debasement ritual." - Ed Gonzalez

This movie was honestly bordering on being a comedy for me. It just wasn't as disturbing as people say it is. I mean the scene where she goes into that booth to watch porn and starts sniffing guys used jizz stained kleenex was laughable. As were many other moments. I feel like Judd Apatow should remake this. Seth Rogen IS Erika. I'd watch that. It also features a typical bullshit Haneke ending.

A fascinating exploration of psychology and sexual politics. Erika is one of the most complex and interesting characters I've come across, and Huppert's performance is absolutely stellar, hitting all the right notes to portray her emotional distance, self loathing and sexual desperation. It's hypnotic and repulsive at the same time.

Isabelle Huppert and the classical music pieces take it a long way in my regard. The script peaks at the build and collapses into a very forced and contrived situation that cheapens the result - a pattern that to some degree, I keep finding in Haneke's work.

Neither that disturbing nor particularly deep, this bores and turns on the sillyness in equal measures. I guess characters like Huppert's exist but I don't agree that her celebrated performance is very nuanced at all - mostly, she just stares.

I don't find La Pianiste to be a masterpiece, but it succeeded in making me feel a myriad of emotions and desires. Often I felt disturbed, disgusted, awkward. While in an ordinary film this would mean I would alienate myself from the character, here Haneke managed to keep me wanting more and feeling some of the desires Erika also had.

Erika is a remarkably compelling character to watch, one of the most complex and intriguing characters I have ever seen and you never know what to feel towards her. Is The Piano Teacher criticising upper-middle class snobbishness towards what they see as sexual perversions or is it criticising a person wanting for such sexual extremes without considering the consequences? For my money, both. It is an intensely powerful film, both gutwrenching and heartbreaking in equal measure. Sublime.

I was initially put off by Haneke's stark camera, but as the film progressed it turned out to be the perfect tool to capture Huppert's subtle performance. I was amazed by the range of Huppert's emotions, and pleased by the depth of the performance. The closing scene was particularly poignant as it informed the characters earlier actions. This film starts slowly, but crashes across the finish line.

A fascinating look at the (sex)life of a deeply disturbed woman with a cold and icy demeanor. Huppert gives a truly amazing performance. The wonderful classical music throughout slightly alleviates the cringeworthyness.

Bardzo dobry, ale nie zrobil na mnie tak piorunujacego wrazenia jak inne filmy M. Haneke.

23 Juliol 2011 - Molt impactant. M'ha trasbalsat la capacitat dels personatges de transmetre estats mentals. Com es pot fer una creació tan complexa gairebé com la realitat? Amb quin virtuosisme capta la imcomprensibilitat de la vida.