Think you're right on the nose with the musical theme and her comment: the notes don't matter as much as the feeling...Erika seemed to be looking for someone that could read between the lines and understand what she was implying, essentially a person that would get the feeling right. Walter didn't. I think she saw herself as deserving of punishment but that didn't seem to be what she really wanted. Her instructions felt more like a test. To see if Walter would be willing to cross boundaries and mistreat her like her mom or if he despite her provocation could see her as good. A test to see if she could be loved.
*Spoilers included* I watched The Piano Teacher for the first time last night and was pleasantly surprised to find your review which was uploaded a mere 2 hours prior to my search for reviews/analyses on TH-cam. That struck me as odd for a movie from 2001. Anyway, I really enjoyed your analysis through the musical lens, and I think you identify a very interesting point about her fixation on prescriptive dynamics above all. I was pretty taken aback by your interpretation of Klemmer's actions at the end of the film, however. Instead of interpreting this as him "obliging" her or that she "likes it," I interpreted the ending very differently. It seems to me that when Erika physically rejects a more standard sexual experience with Klemmer by vomiting in the hockey equipment room that he's deeply offended and enraged. I believe he even says something about her running away on the ice rink when he shows up at her apartment later. It's then that he beats her and rapes her. I interpreted this as a way to humiliate her and ultimately steal consent and autonomy over her sexual desire/fetishes/kinks/perversions (whatever language we're using here). If she was in fact enjoying herself, or if Klemmer was fulfilling her S&M fantasies in a way that was truly consensual by her prescription, I don't see how the end of the movie makes any sense--why would Erika choose to stab herself--an act of self-harm that is usually intended to regain control?
your comment is older already but I subscribe to everything you're saying! Too many film reviewers see this rape scene as something that could be interpreted as consensual but it's SO CLEAR that it's NOT.
To me it felt like with the letter and the instructions in it, Walter felt emasculated. And when she vomits in the locker room, he feels further humiliated. So by breaking in and assaulting her he tries to reclaim his sense of masculinity because when you read the book it's made clear that he does not completely oblige to what Erika instructed him to do. And in the book there is also this passage where she secretly hopes he will refuse her wishes out of love - because inherently she wants to be loved "normally" but due to the deeply disturbed relationship with her mother she feels repulsed by actions of "love", even though that is what she (secretly) desires. I also interpreted her perversions and/or masochism as something that derived from the relationship to her mother - an act of rebellion or an attempt to regain some sense of autonomy because she know her mother would be appalled at her secret actions. But ultimately those perversions and fantasies - when played out in real life - do not satisfy her.
She doesnt like it. That's the whole point of the movie - to showcase how deeply broken and desperate for love she is. She was testing him, saying if you want me - love me despite this brokeness and show me that you love me.
Tbh I was more shocked at the mother-daughter relationship than the student-teacher one. Absolutely no personal boundaries there! Yikes... I got Schumann and Schubert mixed up in school too. I think it's a thing. The music was exquisite, Thanks for your review!
Really cool! Haven’t seen the movie but I love me some Winterreise so it sounds like I should. Super interesting take on the composer/performer relationship - reminds me of something my undergrad advisor Fred Maus wrote about s&m in classical music, but his article was about the audience/performer relationship, how the audience has learned to sit as if bound and gagged during concerts, or something like that (it’s been a while since I read it). Really cool thinking about masochism and the new complexity angle too - setting up these situations where “failure”, in the sense of getting the rhythms accurate, is inevitable.
There comes a point when analyses becomes meaningless…your conduit is via music while I would have worked it into a Freudian frenzy… Anyway, you’re overthinking the thing-point is the author is one screwed up woman…
![[#2024MAMA] ROSÉ (로제), Bruno Mars - APT. | Mnet 241122 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dgGqD28J6aQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Think you're right on the nose with the musical theme and her comment: the notes don't matter as much as the feeling...Erika seemed to be looking for someone that could read between the lines and understand what she was implying, essentially a person that would get the feeling right. Walter didn't.
I think she saw herself as deserving of punishment but that didn't seem to be what she really wanted. Her instructions felt more like a test. To see if Walter would be willing to cross boundaries and mistreat her like her mom or if he despite her provocation could see her as good. A test to see if she could be loved.
*Spoilers included* I watched The Piano Teacher for the first time last night and was pleasantly surprised to find your review which was uploaded a mere 2 hours prior to my search for reviews/analyses on TH-cam. That struck me as odd for a movie from 2001. Anyway, I really enjoyed your analysis through the musical lens, and I think you identify a very interesting point about her fixation on prescriptive dynamics above all. I was pretty taken aback by your interpretation of Klemmer's actions at the end of the film, however. Instead of interpreting this as him "obliging" her or that she "likes it," I interpreted the ending very differently. It seems to me that when Erika physically rejects a more standard sexual experience with Klemmer by vomiting in the hockey equipment room that he's deeply offended and enraged. I believe he even says something about her running away on the ice rink when he shows up at her apartment later. It's then that he beats her and rapes her. I interpreted this as a way to humiliate her and ultimately steal consent and autonomy over her sexual desire/fetishes/kinks/perversions (whatever language we're using here). If she was in fact enjoying herself, or if Klemmer was fulfilling her S&M fantasies in a way that was truly consensual by her prescription, I don't see how the end of the movie makes any sense--why would Erika choose to stab herself--an act of self-harm that is usually intended to regain control?
your comment is older already but I subscribe to everything you're saying! Too many film reviewers see this rape scene as something that could be interpreted as consensual but it's SO CLEAR that it's NOT.
To me it felt like with the letter and the instructions in it, Walter felt emasculated. And when she vomits in the locker room, he feels further humiliated. So by breaking in and assaulting her he tries to reclaim his sense of masculinity because when you read the book it's made clear that he does not completely oblige to what Erika instructed him to do. And in the book there is also this passage where she secretly hopes he will refuse her wishes out of love - because inherently she wants to be loved "normally" but due to the deeply disturbed relationship with her mother she feels repulsed by actions of "love", even though that is what she (secretly) desires. I also interpreted her perversions and/or masochism as something that derived from the relationship to her mother - an act of rebellion or an attempt to regain some sense of autonomy because she know her mother would be appalled at her secret actions. But ultimately those perversions and fantasies - when played out in real life - do not satisfy her.
How can anyone see that scene as consensual -seeing the way she acts before, during and after it -blows my mind.
I first watched this film shortly after dropping out of music school and thought yeah, thats pretty much how it is
If so then you are lucky to have left it.
She doesnt like it. That's the whole point of the movie - to showcase how deeply broken and desperate for love she is. She was testing him, saying if you want me - love me despite this brokeness and show me that you love me.
Interesting analysis through the music, I didn't think about this perspective.
Thanks!
Tbh I was more shocked at the mother-daughter relationship than the student-teacher one. Absolutely no personal boundaries there! Yikes...
I got Schumann and Schubert mixed up in school too. I think it's a thing. The music was exquisite, Thanks for your review!
Yes, it was disturbing. The seething envy was shocking to me, and I think, the root of her neuroses.
I am quite a film buff, particularly of foreign or more experimental films, and Haneke is one of my favourite directors. Interesting thoughts!
What an incredible analysis, great video!!!!!!
Really cool! Haven’t seen the movie but I love me some Winterreise so it sounds like I should. Super interesting take on the composer/performer relationship - reminds me of something my undergrad advisor Fred Maus wrote about s&m in classical music, but his article was about the audience/performer relationship, how the audience has learned to sit as if bound and gagged during concerts, or something like that (it’s been a while since I read it). Really cool thinking about masochism and the new complexity angle too - setting up these situations where “failure”, in the sense of getting the rhythms accurate, is inevitable.
thaaanks man for your analysis, it's extremely interesting
You should do more of his though... seventh kontinent, etc or some French, Italian, spanish films.
hahahaha tim dillon's new complexity
from the Metal Guitarists rule book - Brutal riffs are more important than technical riffs
unique
There comes a point when analyses becomes meaningless…your conduit is via music while I would have worked it into a Freudian frenzy…
Anyway, you’re overthinking the thing-point is the author is one screwed up woman…
I've known people like this irl they're not particularly likeable but not hate able as well at least to me
Kink negative. Lol
I only have one question... why did I waste my time watching this film?
you didn’t understand it and that’s fine
Im not into this filth man........not anymore! You make me laugh! Definitely will check this fillum out!