The Piano Teacher

2001, 130', Michael Haneke, French dialogue

Erika Kohut is a repressed, middle-aged piano teacher at the Vienna Conservatory. She still lives in an apartment with her controlling mother, and to escape from the elder woman’s tyranny, she secretly spends her time at porn theaters and peep-shows. Disconnected from society, her sex life consists of morbid voyeurism and masochistic self-mutilation. When one of her students tries to seduce her, her life takes an even darker turn.

Michael Haneke is an Austrian film director and screenwriter. His films often document the discontent and estrangement of modern society. He is also known for raising social issues in his work. Besides working as a filmmaker, he teaches directing at the Film Academy Vienna.

His film The White Ribbon won the Palme d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. When his 2012 film Amour premiered at Cannes, it also went on to win the Palme d’Or, making him only one of seven directors to win the prestigious award twice.