Jane Campion's The Piano is a nontraditional coming of age story of a mute woman's affection with her piano. Ada (played by Holly Hunter) is a young single mother who has to travel to New Zealand to her arranged husband, Stewart (Sam Niell).
Character blocking suggest the presence of two worlds. When Stewart and the natives arrive at the beach to pick up Ada and her daughter, the natives are positioned right behind Stewart. The natives stare, mesmerized by Ada's appearance. While Stewart and Ada communicate, the natives are seen emulation their expressions. The comparison within the film suggest the presence of two very distinct types of people. In addition, a native wears a hat similar to Stewart. As the native stands behind Stewart, the viewer is presented with a direct comparison of two different types of people that intertwine with Ada's arrival. The color of their distinct attire also highlights the distinction of cultures. The natives wear browns and colors of nature, while the more "civilized" people wear dark attire.
Throughout the film, camera distance reflects the connection between Ada and her piano. Extreme close-up shots represent the strong relationship between Ada and her musical instrument. Long shots reflect Ada's isolation from society, due to her fascination with her piano.
Ada's daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) represents her conscious. As Ada sexually indulges herself with a native named Baines (Harvey Keitel) for her piano, Flora reminds her that it is not a good idea to do so. While Ada plays her piano in Baines home, Flora stays outside playing "mother" with a dog. This shows that Flora is much more motherly and conscious than her mother.
As Ada starts to fall in love with Baines, the color of the scenes begin to change. The blue-ish frames change to warmer color scenes of passion. The change in color reflects Ada's sexual independence from her husband Stewart.
The film's climatic moment, where Ada's finger is chopped off suggests a form of castration; where her independence is being prohibited. An earlier scene foreshadows such event, when the play director is playing with props and shadows. The canted angle in this scene highlights the foreshadowing event that eventually becomes a catalyst for Ada's growth. After Ada leaves New Zealand, Ada maturity is seen by her decision to leave her piano behind. After getting caught in the rope and falling with the piano in the ocean, the slow motion effect of her rising from the ocean suggests purgation/rebirth.
The final scene represents Ada's new life. In comparison to Stewart's home, where the windows were closed and the doors were locked, the new home she now lives with is fill with white walls and open windows, with curtains flowing with the wind. Ada's ability to continue playing piano with a missing finger and her willingness to learn to to speak again shows how much Adas has grown from when we first saw her, mirroring the image of her six year old daughter.
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