Following Denzel Washington and his team’s critically acclaimed production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in 2020, Netflix has again opened the vault of its vast resources to his team to bring to the screen another August Wilson play in The Piano Lesson. Making his directorial debut is Denzel Washington’s son, Malcolm Washington who along with writer Virgil Williams, co-wrote the screenplay.
The film stars another Washington, John David, in a commanding performance as Boy Willie Charles, a role he played in the play’s Broadway revival in 2022. Danielle Deadwyler shines as Boy Willie’s sister Berneice Charles. The duo superbly bring their characters’ ideological differences to the screen with a fiery intensity. The supporting cast includes Ray Fisher as Lymon, a friend with whom Boy Willie has travelled from Mississippi to Pittsburgh to visit Berneice and their uncle Doaker Charles, played by the ever-impressive Samuel L. Jackson, who also reprises his Broadway role.
At its heart, The Piano Lesson is a profound exploration of legacy, identity, and the ties that bind a family to its past. The film centres on the Charles family’s prized piano, intricately carved with depictions of their ancestors’ journey from Africa to America, symbolising both their suffering and resilience.
Boy Willie, eager to carve out a future for himself, wishes to sell the piano to purchase land in Mississippi, while Berniece staunchly defends it as an irreplaceable relic of their history. This conflict is amplified by the haunting presence of Sutter’s ghost, a literal and symbolic reminder of the family’s fraught relationship with their past.
Washington’s direction, coupled with Virgil Williams’ near-flawless screenplay, deftly balances the weighty themes of Wilson’s original work with moments of warmth and humour. The dialogue feels authentic, weaving the characters’ struggles into a larger narrative of African American history without ever losing its personal, intimate touch.
Visually, the film excels in its use of the Doaker Charles residence as the primary setting, its detailed design encapsulating the lived-in warmth of a family home steeped in history. The cinematography captures the interplay between light and shadow, mirroring the tension between past and present that defines the story. The ensemble cast’s singing is a standout feature—uplifting and hair-raising, it imbues the film with a sense of pride and deep cultural reverence, reinforcing the themes of legacy and storytelling.
Ultimately, The Piano Lesson resonates not just as a powerful family drama but as a testament to the enduring importance of history and heritage. Washington’s debut behind the camera is assured and evocative, signalling a promising directorial future. With its superb performances, meticulously crafted screenplay, and poignant themes, The Piano Lesson is an essential entry in the canon of Wilson’s work on screen.
Rating: ★★★★★
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