Following a successful 2022 Broadway revival, "The Piano Lesson," the seventh play in August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle, receives its second film adaptation from Netflix. Malcolm Washington makes his directorial debut with the film in addition to co-writing the screenplay with Virgil Williams.
Set in 1936, "The Piano Lesson" centers on The Charles Family. Estranged son Boy Willie (John David Washington) and his best friend Lymon (Ray Fisher) have just returned to town with dollar signs in their eyes as they sell watermelons to the townfolks. The duo's return is met with disdain from Boy Willie's sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler), who doesn't want her home disrupted with foolishness or scams.
Their Uncle Doaker (Samuel L. Jackson) and Berniece's young daughter Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith) try their best to keep the peace in the house, as does family friend Wining Boy (Michael Potts). However, the overly ambitious Boy Willie plans to build the family fortune by selling their prized heirloom piano. When it comes to Berniece, though, she will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family's heritage. The piano's wooden frame was carefully chiseled carvings of their great-grandparents when they were enslaved.
While I have vague memories of watching the Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard starring version of the previous adaptation of "The Piano Lesson," I wanted to go into this version blind. From the moment director Malcolm Washington opens the film on July 04, 1911, with a set scene focusing on the sibling's father, Boy Charles (Stephan James), it quickly becomes apparent we are in for a ride.
Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, and Michael Potts all reprise their roles from Broadway. Jackson can do a role like this in his sleep, and since I wasn't aware of Michael Potts, I also found myself enriched in his character. However, John David Washington and Ray Fisher steal the show when it comes to the male performers. Fisher portrays Lymon with authentic, gentle giant vibes; hopefully, this role breaks him out.
Washington, on the other hand, continues to shine. Here, he gives a mix of unlikable and relatable, as he's that family member we all have who can't do right. Ultimately, though, the MVP of the film is Deadwyler, who plays Berniece as a force of nature put to the test by Boy Willie and every kind of opposition she has ever faced. Deadwyler and Washington are a match made in heaven and provide one of the best-acting duos of the year.
Furthermore, Berniece's most emotionally charged scene is when she sits at the piano and plays: her fingers move over the keys in a fit of sorrow and triumph. Washington frames the scene as if taking its catharsis as if the entire story has been building towards this moment, which provides the emotional stakes of it all.
The music speaks its language, connecting the past and the present, reminding us that heritage is essential to our identity. The film is also visually stunning, capturing the characters' homes' warmth and their lives' harsh realities. Each frame echoes the play's themes of struggle and resilience, immersing viewers in the 1930s setting.
"The Piano Lesson" is a triumph. It is a brave examination of inheritance and our sacrifices in the name of progress. The performances are gripping, the direction is excellent, and the themes are timeless.
Final Grade: A-
Netflix will release "The Piano Lesson" in theaters on November 08 before the film streams on November 22.
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