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The Piano Lesson

1995·Movie
1h 35min

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Piano Lesson fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace3
  • Violence3

Heart

Moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Satire & Parody2
  • Dark Humor2

World

History, family, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout score

  • Music Composition8
  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

1930's Pittsburgh, a brother comes home to claim "my half of the piano", a family heirloom; but his sister is not wanting to part with it. This is a glimpse of the conditions for African-Americans as well as some of the attitudes and influences on their lives. But whether he is able to sell the piano so that he can get enough money to buy some property and "no longer have to work for someone else" involves the story (or lesson) that the piano has to show him.
African-American HeritageFamily Drama1930s PittsburghCultural IdentityHeirloomHistorical DramaCharacter-DrivenSocial Issues

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Piano Lesson

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Piano Lesson legally?

The Piano Lesson is included with a subscription to fuboTV and Philo in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Pluto TV, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Piano Lesson worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 72/100 (IMDb 6.9). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is The Piano Lesson?

1 h 35 min

The Piano Lesson runs 1 h 35 min.

What language is The Piano Lesson in?

English

It was made in English.

In how many countries can I watch The Piano Lesson?

2CAUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Piano Lesson in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.