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The Piano Lesson (2024 film)

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The Piano Lesson
Release poster
Directed byMalcolm Washington
Screenplay by
Based onThe Piano Lesson
by August Wilson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMike Gioulakis
Edited byLeslie Jones
Music byAlexandre Desplat
Production
company
Mundy Lane Entertainment
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • August 31, 2024 (2024-08-31) (Telluride)
  • November 8, 2024 (2024-11-08) (United States)
  • November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22) (Netflix)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Piano Lesson is a 2024 American drama film directed by Malcolm Washington, who co-wrote the screenplay with Virgil Williams. It is an adaptation of the 1987 play by August Wilson. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.

The Piano Lesson premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024, and it is scheduled to be released in select theaters in the United States on November 8, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on November 22.

Premise

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Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor.

— Deadline Hollywood[1]

Cast

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Production

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It was announced in April 2023 that Malcolm Washington would make his feature directorial and screenwriting debut with the film, an adaptation of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson, with his brother John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins starring.[1] John David Washington, Jackson, Fisher and Potts reprise their roles from the 2022 stage production of the play.[2] Washington's father, Denzel, is producing the film with Todd Black. In May, singer Erykah Badu was announced to be making a cameo appearance in the film.[3] Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James, Malik J. Ali, Jay Peterson and Matrell Smith rounded out the cast in June 2023.[4]

Filming began in Atlanta in April 2023.[5] The Pittsburgh Film Office expressed disappointment that the production would not be filming in the city like previous Wilson adaptations.[6]

Release

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The film's world premiere took place at the Telluride Film Festival, prior to its international premiere as a special presentation at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[7][8]

The Piano Lesson is scheduled to be released in select theaters in the United States on November 8, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on November 22.[9][10]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[11]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Hamptons International Film Festival October 5, 2024 Breakthrough Director Award Malcolm Washington Honored [12]
Mill Valley Film Festival October 5, 2024 MVFF Award for Acting Danielle Deadwyler Honored [13]
Middleburg Film Festival October 20, 2024 Breakthrough Actor Award Honored [14]
Montclair Film Festival October 27, 2024 Performance Award John David Washington Honored [15]
Breakthrough Director Award Malcolm Washington Honored
Chicago International Film Festival October 27, 2024 Breakthrough Award Honored [16]
Spotlight Award John David Washington Honored [16]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Ensemble Tribute The cast of The Piano Lesson[a] Honored [17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Corey Hawkins and Erykah Badu

References

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  1. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (April 13, 2023). "Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler & More Set For Netflix's The Piano Lesson; Denzel Washington, Todd Black Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ^ White, Abbey (April 27, 2022). "Ray Fisher Joins Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington in Cast of Broadway's 'The Piano Lesson'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Grobar, Matt (May 30, 2023). "The Piano Lesson: Erykah Badu Latest To Board Netflix's August Wilson Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 1, 2023). "Netflix's 'The Piano Lesson' Adds Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James & Others". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Carey, Adam (April 14, 2023). "Rain delays filming of 'The Piano Lesson' in the Between the Rivers District". Rome News-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Axelrod, Joshua (April 13, 2023). "Netflix's The Piano Lesson adaptation breaks cycle by not filming in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  7. ^ Hammond, Pete (August 29, 2024). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes 'Saturday Night', 'The Piano Lesson', 'Conclave' & 'Nickel Boys' World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Kay, Jeremy (July 22, 2024). "Toronto film festival adds Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Edward Burns, David Mackenzie titles". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Netflix [@netflix] (August 20, 2024). "The Piano Lesson directed by Malcolm Washington. Trailer tomorrow. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skyler Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Asatryan, Tigran (August 20, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' Netflix Movie: Release Date & Everything We Know So Far". What's on Netflix. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "The Piano Lesson". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 9, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  12. ^ McCracken, Kristin (August 28, 2024). "HIFF 2024: Conversations + Honorees". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  13. ^ Jackson, Angelique (September 24, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' Star Danielle Deadwyler to Receive Mill Valley Film Fest Award (EXCLUSIVE)".
  14. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 26, 2024). "Middleburg Film Fest: 'Blitz' to Open, 'Nickel Boys' to Close, 'Sing Sing' Stars Among Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Facebook; Twitter; YouTube; Instagram; Flickr. "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, Honors, & Creator Spotlight | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved September 20, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ a b Roche, Barbara (September 24, 2024). "60th Chicago International Film Festival full lineup and schedule". Reel Chicago News. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 18, 2024). "Gotham Awards: The Piano Lesson Cast Set for Ensemble Tribute (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
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