Great piano and music-themed movies that will inspire you to play the piano. These movies are made on great pianists and their performances. Watch them to get some inspiration, to learn more about the greatest music composers, or just watch it because they are well made movies.
Best Piano Themed Movies
Amadeus (1984)
Incredible story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Every frame is packed with gorgeous wigs & costumes, stunning palace halls and of course fabulous music. This is definitely required viewing for all music lovers.
The best part of the film is that it informs us Mozart’s story through the eyes of his chief rival, the court composer Antonio Salieri. In comparison to Mozart, who is portrayed here as a kind of 18th century superstar, Salieri is a painfully average composer and he is the only one in Vienna who recognizes how sublime Mozart’s music is. Several times, he is angry at God for giving him the desire to create music but not the talent required to do so.
Shine (1996)
Shine (Scott Hicks) is about a piano prodigy who undergoes emotional abuse at the hands of his strict father. It takes several years before he is happy again, thanks to an unexpected romance.Immortal Beloved (1994)
This movie investigates the artistic and romantic passions of one of the greatest composers of all time – Ludwig van Beethoven. Immortal Beloved charts the tumultuous life of the child prodigy and his rise to the height of musical achievement.
The Pianist (2002)
A Polish Jewish Pianist, Szpilman (played by Adrien Brody – he’s brilliant in the film) struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II. Szpilman knows he is good pianist. On more than one occasion, we see him reassuring others that things will turn out all right, and that’s because he believes that, for anyone who plays the piano as well as he does, it must. The Pianist movie review.
Somehow he manages to hang on through everything and survives. Finally, when the Germans are about to leave Warsaw, Szpilman is spotted by a German Officer. But it is his gift of music that perhaps finally saves his life. The German officer get sympathetic towards him and spares him. Szpilman goes back to playing the piano on Warsaw radio.
The Piano (1993)
Story about a mute woman Ada and her prized piano! Ada is sent to New Zealand by her father for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner. Her new husband trades her beloved piano to his friend, A furious Ada resolves to reclaim her prized piano instrument through a bargain with the new owner. Soon she falls in love with a local worker on the plantation and the rest of the movie captures the dilemma of her relations.
The woman communicates with the world through her piano, and through sign language, which is interpreted by her daughter.
Copying Beethoven
A passionate, powerful drama based loosely on the final months of Ludwig van Beethoven’s life, Copying Beethoven finds the maestro a haunted man, composing the most revolutionary yet unappreciated work of his lifetime.
Grand Piano (Eugenio Mira)
Tom Selznick (Elijah Wood) is the most talented pianist of his generation, but has stopped performing in public because of his stage fright. Years after a catastrophic performance, he reappears in public for a long-awaited concert in Chicago.
The Piano Teacher (2001)
A dark movie based on a sexually repressed, middle-aged music professor at a prestigious Vienna music school, who has a violent relationship with her mother. Her life gets turbulent when she gets into an affair with a much younger student.
Four Minutes (2006) – (German: Vier Minuten)
A child piano prodigy enters a life of crime. In jail, she re-kindles her talent under the tutelage of an older piano teacher, who has a painful past of her own. The four-minute contest (piano playing) piece towards the end of the movie is unforgettable.
Beethoven Lives Upstairs
This is for all ages! The movie won an Emmy award for the best children’s program.
The Piano Lesson
The film focuses on a black family in the 1930s and their piano, which is adorned with the faces of their slave ancestors. One of the family members is determined to sell this ancient piano in which he claims half-ownership.
Movies on Great Pianists / Composers
The Art of Piano – Great Pianists of 20th Century
This movie takes a brilliant, fascinating look at over one hundred years (from Plante to Richter) of pianism, with rare footages of some of history’s greatest pianists performing live or discussing their art.
The Goldberg Variations – Glenn Gould Plays Bach
This is an elegant and superb performance by Glenn Gould. The way he plays is just amazing.
In Celebration of The Piano
It features 26 of the world’s greatest pianists. This was filmed live at Carnegie hall to celebrate the 135th Anniversary of the first Steinway.
Great Composers Series – Beethoven
The Great Composers Series! This one features Beethoven. It is about an hour long and covers an incredible amount regarding Beethoven’s life.
Great Composers Series – Mozart
This video on Mozart is for an hour long! Besides learning about Mozart, this movie does a good job of unraveling over 200 years of fiction and myth.
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