The Piano Lesson

A family clashes over the fate of an heirloom piano in The Piano Lesson. On July 4, 1911, three brothers stole a piano from their former enslavers, though one of them, Boy Charles (Stephan James), died in a consequential fire. 25 years later, Boy Charles’ son Boy Willie (John David Washington) arrives with his friend Lymon (Ray Fisher) at the home of his uncle Doaker (Samuel L. Jackson), where Boy Willie’s sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) lives with her daughter Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith). After selling a truckful of watermelon, Boy Willie plans to sell the piano, still in Berniece’s possession, so he can buy a piece of land once owned by the family of James Sutter (Jay Peterson), the family’s former enslaver whose ghost now apparently haunts Berniece.

Despite not playing the piano for years, Berniece is adamant against Boy Willie selling it. This results in a discussion between Boy Willie, Doaker, and his surviving brother Wining Boy (Michael Potts) about the piano’s history and its importance to the family. In addition, Berniece asks her preacher boyfriend Avery (Corey Hawkins) to bless the house and calm the ghosts of the past.

The Piano Lesson Synopsis

The Piano Lesson is the directorial debut of co-writer and director Malcolm Washington, the son of producer Denzel Washington, which is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 play of the same name by August Wilson. The film brings together much of the cast of the 2022 Broadway revival of the play, including Malcolm Washington’s brother John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Tenet, The Creator) as Boy Willie, Samuel L. Jackson (Argylle) as Doaker, Ray Fisher (Justice League, Rebel Moon) as Lymon, and Michael Potts (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) as Wining Boy. At the core of the story of the film is an heirloom piano that has been in the family of former slaves for the past 25 years.

Boy Willie sees no point in keeping the piano, so he wants to sell it to buy a piece of land. However, Berniece, who spent years playing it for her grieving mother, wants to hold on to the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. As the debate over the piano continues, the ghosts of the past, both figuratively and literally, emerge to confront the family.

My Thoughts on The Piano Lesson

The Piano Lesson adapts August Wilson’s play with a film that is relegated for the most part to the single house location. With the majority of the film’s cast having already played their roles on stage, the film’s performances are solid all around. However, the single location does make the film come off as somewhat monotonous, particularly in the film’s first half.

While The Piano Lesson is ultimately a post-slavery drama, it is interesting how there is also a ghost story element. While I’m not sure how to come off on stage, Malcolm Washington makes it appear like this family is truly being haunted by the ghost of their former slaver Sutter, who died by reportedly being pushed by the Ghost of the Yellow Dog down a well. While The Piano Lesson never becomes a full horror film, the ghosts of the past do end up playing a major role in the story. Altogether, despite the pacing being slow and monotonous in some areas, The Piano Lesson is a film that is worth checking out.

Trailer for The Piano Lesson