*Small Spoiler Alert*
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Piano Teacher
SonnyCarson — 14 years ago(May 17, 2011 10:30 PM)
Small Spoiler Alert
I'm just curious. I'm talking about the scene in which Erika comes home late and her mother slaps her, saying that Erika's father died. Was the mother just taking out her sadness and anger on her daughter?
It's also interesting that we see nothing and don't know too much about Erika's father. I had earlier assumed that he was dead. Erika did talk about him briefy, saying that he was in an insane asylum if I remember correctly. I would've liked to know more though. Like what that family ws like before it was just mother and daughter.
Still, a great movie even though it was disturbing, though I like disturbing movies even though I refuse to watch Audition.
"A great movie is one in which truth and spectacle are gracefully blended." -
louise_mothersole — 14 years ago(June 08, 2011 05:02 PM)
Just putting thoughts out there. It's fun to theorise:
My interpretation is this: The father's absence in the film mirrors his absence throughout Erika's life.
What we hear about him is all she really knows herself. Her world, for as long as she can remember, has been just her and her stiflingly possessive mother.
I think that if we were told more about him, he would have been too present a figure in the film - thereby broadening Erika's life/experience too much beyond her sheltered one which revolved around her, her mother, and music.
OR
There is a significance about Erika's behaviour (so very reminiscent of abuse victims' if their trauma goes untreated) and the father. If he had been more present (talked about more, explained further, referenced etc.) his involvement in her current psychological state would have been too obvious. Any further mention of him, and it would have seemed too clear that he was a large contributing factor (if not the catalyst) for her eventual disturbed/distorted sexuality.
Liz Lemon: Chocolate chocolate chocolate! AAACK! -
CathyE — 14 years ago(June 13, 2011 09:24 AM)
I remember her saying that her father died in an insane asylum.
I assumed her mother was angry because it was the anniversary of his death, and Erika wasn't there to mark the day with her.
It was a strange scene, that seemed to be abruptly cut short.
I always tell the trutheven when I lie- Scarface
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BettyX — 14 years ago(June 21, 2011 01:00 AM)
In the book she slapped her because of her 'vanity'. Accused her of spending money frivolously on something that didn't benefit their lifestyle together (a new apartment). Her mother slapped Erica as a form of control.
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BettyX — 14 years ago(June 29, 2011 10:10 PM)
I don't know if I would use the word 'good' for the book. It's different. I do like the movie better than the book. The book is dark, intense, often uncomfortable and sexually graphic. The book centers around the relationship of Erica and the abusive relationship with her mother. Also has more details about Erica's father. You realize quickly why Erica is self-abusive. Klemmer's true intentions are different in the book than in the movie. It's one of those books I wouldn't recommend to just anyone. If you really liked the movie and read, you may like it. Jelinek's writing is fluent, descriptive, and cuts like a knife. Fantastic writer.
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CathyE — 14 years ago(January 07, 2012 09:33 PM)
I decided I would read the book. I'm about two thirds of the way through now. It's enjoyable, but demanding. Her writing is so dense. It requires your full attention, or you miss things.
What is clear in the book, but only hinted at in the film, is the total control Erika's mother has had over her her entire life. The ultimate stage mother, she made Erika play piano, and nothing else, in the hopes she would be a famous concert pianist.
Her mother never let her out of her grasp for a moment. Erika couldn't go anywhere; do anything, without mother. Mother made her sleep in the same bed with her, to make sure she didn't touch herself (masterbate). This explained for me the scene in the movie when Erika jumps on her mother in a sexual way for a few moments; like she was saying, "See! You can't stop me!"
Erika's mother smothered her with cloying attention, that she would say was love, but was really extreme neediness, and dominance.
She has to know where Erika is, and what Erika is doing at every moment of the day, or she becomes first extremely worried, and ultimately extremely angry that Erika has allow her to worry so much.
Erika longs to escape her mother, but at the same time, feels safe with her. It's the only life she's known. There's much womb like imagery used to describe home with mother.
Now it should be plain to see where the self abuse comes from. It's one of the few things Erika can control. Her mother can't take it from her. In the book, she says she feels nothing, no matter how deep she cuts. Her mother has left her completely emotionally numb, and it's manifested itself into a physical numbness as well.
The other freedom Erika has is her small escapes to the shops, where she'll buy an expensive dress, which makes her mother livid (they're supposed to be saving every penny for a new condo). That's what's going on in the opening scene when they have a physical fight over something Erika has bought. Erika has a closet full of pretty dresses she has never worn, and will never wear. But she likes to look at them and dream..
I always tell the trutheven when I lie- Scarface
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sydnee_man — 13 years ago(May 26, 2012 10:10 AM)
Well that does explain a lot more. Thanks for that, because the film was a bit confusing at times. I knew her mother was domineering but what you have described was much more extreme than what was brought across in the film. Too bad Erika wasn't able to break free from her mother. After reading your summary, I would like to interpret the ending as Erika's way of breaking away from everything, especially her mother.
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CathyE — 13 years ago(May 29, 2012 07:05 PM)
That's a bit different too. In the film, I think we're to assume the wound she gives herself is fatal. In the novel, it's not:
"Erika Kohut stabs a place on her shoulder, which instantly shoots out blood. The wound is harmless, but dirt and pus must not get in."
And in the end, she does the only thing she can do; the only thing she knows how to do. She goes home to mother:
"Blood oozes out of her. People look up from the shoulder to the face. Some turn around. Not all. Erika knows the direction she has to take. She heads home, gradually quickening her step."
I always tell the trutheven when I lie- Scarface
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lynno_94 — 13 years ago(September 25, 2012 01:24 PM)
I saw this movie many times, and I couldn't understand what the mother meant when she told Erika that her father has died, since we know already he has died in an asylum. Personally, i was never convinced with the possibility that it was the anniversary of his death. The person I was watching it with told me it's some sort of expression. Saying to her that her father died that night equals saying that she has humiliated her father to his death. In other words, she's telling her daughter that she is an embarrassment for having stayed too late that night. I'm not too sure if it's true but so far that's what makes the most sense to me
