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Campion created an intensely intimate epic about passion and rebellion through acts of defiance as subtle as they are dramatic.
Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel deliver the best performances of their careers as two souls who begin a torrid romance in the midst of stifling social restrictions.
Every scene, from the sensual moments to the outbursts of violence, feels lived-in and real thanks to Campion's assured direction and the bravery of the actors.
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But it is Hunter's integral role as a non-verbal outsider, her longing expressed so vividly through American Sign Language, that anchors the film. A portrait of feminist reclamation.
Under Campion's direction, eroticism and naturalism collide in a collision of physicality and looks. ‘The Piano’ intoxicatingly subverts expectations.
A work of immense subtlety and restraint, it blossoms with each viewing, rewarding those willing to absorb its hypnotic rhythm. Rightly considered one of the best films ever made.
The Piano’ won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1993, establishing Campion as one of the greatest living directors.
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Holly Hunter took home the Oscar for Best Actress, thoroughly deserved for her riveting work.
Campion also won the award for Best Original Screenplay, making her the first woman to do so.
At the British Academy Awards, she won 7 awards, including Best Film.
Commercially, it was a success, grossing $40 million worldwide on a low budget.